Three people came to me, claiming to bear a message from a god I did not follow.
The first bowed with great respect, and hailed me by many names. Lavish praises were poured at my feet, with calls for elevation of my status. But the messenger did not speak the god’s verbal seal. Those hidden words that prove they were sent by the god. So I regarded the messenger as false, and sent kir away.
The second kicked the table away, and spat on me with many pejoratives. Dire warnings and obscene promises were hung about my ears. My blasphemes against the god has gone too far, and kir followers have been told to seek my head for tribute. But this messenger as well carried not the expected seal, and was also sent away.
The third messenger came to me with no regards to my station. Neither praises nor curses were served to me. “Stay true to yourself.”, was the only message. This was followed by the god’s verbal seal. I accepted the messenger as true, and called for drink and food that I might serve kir refreshments. But ke refused.
“Why did you accept me, and refuse the others?” “Because you carried the god’s seal. You spoke the god’s words, not your own.”
“But you do not follow this god.” “Should the worker be denied wages because the employer is a foreigner? That is irrelevant. You spent a personal price to meet me. For that, the least I can do is food, drink, and a moment’s rest.”
“Would you serve me more if my words were praises?” “No.”
“Would you serve me less if my words were curses?” “No.”
“I tell you the truth. All three of us were sent by the same god to test you. Whoever you accepted would color how the god is seen by you from this moment on. Gods choose whom they will, but we have a choice in how to respond.”
I thought over the test and noted a problem with the assumption. “Gods choose whom they will. Yes. But not all chosen will follow.”
“Such has been your test.” The messenger stood, thanked me for the refreshments, and left to join the other two messengers.
After I sent the three messengers away, I was asked to run a message myself. I was given the words to say and the seal of the one sending me. I agreed to be the messenger. I was sent with two other messengers and I was to be the last to speak.
We approached the recipient and hailed kir. The first messenger spoke, claiming to be from the recipient’s god and a follower as well. Ke spoke many positive words and said all the things the recipient wished to hear. But no seal of the god was presented. The recipient accepted the words anyway because they were what ke wanted to hear.
The second messenger spoke, also claiming to be from the same god and a follower as well. Ke spoke angrily to the recipient, denouncing kir and proclaiming their god had rejected the recipient. No seal of the god was presented this time as well. The recipient argued back but in the end accepted these words as valid as well, for they both followed the same god.
When I stepped forward to speak, the recipient recognized me and began hurling violent words at me. How dare I stand in the presence of two true messengers! How could ke bear to hear me speak when all I have ever said about the god is hurtful and baneful words? I waited until the recipient calmed down before speaking.
“Be true to yourself.” I spoke the message given to me. I presented the seal of kir god. My duty completed, I turned to walk away.
“Liar! That is not how my god speaks! You are making it up or not telling all! The seal compels you! Tell me the truth!” The recipient grabbed my arm.
I pulled away harshly. “I did. Those four words. Nothing more. Tell me, why did you refuse me even though I bore the seal? Why did you accept both of them even though they did not? I have no lesson for you. And nothing further to say.” I turned away fully and walked away. The other two messengers joined me. We left and the dream ended.