S

ince before the beginning of time I have only heard the sound of the sharpening sickle and the gavel in my Father's hand. I cowered in fear, unable to escape the gaze of my God, dreading the day the sickle would swipe my fields, bundle everything within and throw my fruits into the fire where I would cry out but my Father would rebuke me and place me next to all the fallen nations. My despair did nothing for me for my Lord, my God is true to His word. I heard His voice telling me,

"Judgement is upon you Zion."

There was a fervent heat within my walls, so hot it melted the candles in the temple, where incense was burnt and offerings were made.

A great storm was set above me and the sky was red as blood. All of my members cried out,

"Spare us, spare us!"

But I heard the voice of God saying,

"None shall be spared."

The strike of the gavel came and there was a mighty earthquake. The foundations of the earth split open and revealed a great chasm. The abyss surrounded me as a moat around a fortress yet I was not taken into the chasm. I heard the shouting, screaming and pleading from every nation on earth, but the loudest was coming from my own members who knew their day had come. A sickle was hacked across each of my members, yet, none of them touched me. I saw chaff piled up higher than the mountains and all of it was bundled up and thrown away. I cried out,

"Why doesn't hurt more, my Lord? Where is the intensity of my pain? Why have I not been thrown away?"

And I felt shame for even asking such things but I heard the voice of God say,

"Zion is being restored."

I heard the echoing of the slashing sickle, but I saw the storm and the chasm no longer. I heard the ringing of bells from over the hills and up high in the firmament.

I am struggling to write in this moment.

I am so weary.

I am young, only a girl by the Lord's measure.

But I am happy.

I am seeing a light coming out and over my hills, a light I've never seen before. And the echoes of the sickle are fading every moment, come day or night. Every foul thing that attempts to keep its place within my walls, makes me happy, because the darkness of shadow is waning and the never-ending day is drawing near. The light is touching my fields and filling them with golden wheat and green orchards. Never have I seen these things since the beginning of time so, I am a smiling bride and a laughing girl. My Father is touching my face with gentle hands. I feel the feet of the bridegroom treading my grass. The birds are singing and there are wedding chimes in the air. I am forgetting the sound of the echoing sickle and gavel. Praise be to my Lord and my God who is also my Lord: I am His country.