Reflections: Chapter 1

Here's a little something I actually wrote.

     Sarah was nervous that morning. It was Announcement Day. On this day, officials would announce who would be going into the heathen nations to spread the glorious message of JESUS CHRIST. It was one of the most important events of the year. Even the laboring class was given a half-day off (without pay, of course) so the laborers could watch the ceremony.
     This year, Announcement Day had a special significance to Sarah. For the last six years, she had been training to participate in an Awakening Group. Her excitement swelled as she hoped that she would be selected. It was a great honor and privilege to serve GOD in that way. Even as far as she had come was exciting; most people were unable to complete the training. She grabbed her BIBLE and her Awakening-Group-training robe and set out for the Great Hall.
     Sarah was glad that being a member of the studying class (studying GOD'S WORD in order to explain it to the people) afforded her the ability to live in a restricted area. It was a beautiful day for a walk. There were only a few white clouds in the sky. The air had that crispness to it that always follows a good rain. Even the chirping of the birds seemed especially cheerful. Sarah thought that she could just stay here and enjoy herself for hours. But she had to get to the Great Hall and she did not have the luxury of stopping.
     Sarah exitted the gate into the common area at the closest point to her destination. She loathed walking through the common areas. They were always so crowded. There was still about a mile left before Sarah reached the Great Hall; but already if felt as though the crowd was going to squeeze her out of existence.
     Sarah was relieved finally to reach the Great Hall. She passed her hand under a scanner and was admitted to the trainee area. Every subject of the Conservative States of America was implanted with a chip in the left hand at age three. The chips were primarily used for access control. They identified a person's class and determined whether he was allowed to enter a given area. They were also used by the enforcers to track down anyone who would violate the holy laws. The chips made Sarah feel very secure. She did know, however, that there would come a time when the Beast would rule. He would also make use of such chips; but he was going to require that people have them in their right hands. There were rumors that the rulers and enforcers did not have the chips in their hands. It didn't really matter. They were privileged by GOD and did not need to be tracked.
     Sarah had arrived a little early; and she had time to think about her training. She had learned many different ways to bring people's defenses down and lead them to CHRIST. She thought about how exciting a time this was in which to be alive. Israel had already taken over most of Asia. (The "fig tree" was spreading out her branches. Soon the tree would bud. Prophecies were being fulfilled in her time.) Soon, CHRIST would be coming for HIS church. It was exceedingly important, in these final days, to bring as many people to CHRIST as they possibly could.
     Slowly, the other people started to arrive; and the preparations started. The people seeking to be part of an Awakening Group took their seats according to the locations to which they had applied to travel in order to lead the heathens to the LORD. An astonishing number had sought to go to states in Euronat. Sarah discovered that most people seeking to go into the Progressive States had selected states like Arizona, which already had substantial CHRISTIAN influence. She believed that GOD had chosen her for a greater challenge. She, herself, had applied to go to the state of Massachusetts and the hostility people had to the LORD would not faze her.
     Sarah thought about the name of the country to which she expected to go. Progressive States of America -- how progressive was it to take GOD out of the government? In the Conservative States, they knew how to do things GOD'S way. There was none of this nonsense about Marriage, as a religious institution, being off-limits to the government. If you did not marry in a timely fashion, the State would appoint you a partner. Naturally, what constituted a timely fashion depended on your class.
     The Conservative States kept things right. People in the laboring class were put to work at age 13 and had to marry by age 16. Those in other classes, who served GOD in other ways, would meet those obligations first. (For example, Sarah would have to marry within three years of completing her awakening journey.) Tithes of 10 per cent were taken out of pay automaticly. (For the laboring class, the tithes were 20 percent.) And cameras allowed the enforcers to make sure people weren't violating GOD'S law.
     The ceremony itself was long; but Sarah was able to stand at attention like a good trainee. It was four hours before the officiaries started announcing the Awakening Groups that the State was sending. As each group was announced, the members walked up to the stage, were given some paperwork, and were escorted to another room for further instructions.
     It seemed an incredible length of time; but the announcer finally came to Massachusetts. "For Massachusetts, in the Progressive States of America, there will be four groups. Group A will consist of Charles Kingley, Edward Glimfry, Harold Zendell, and Linda Arkland. Group B will consist of Norman Whitsack, Lawrence Klugman, William Lovejoy, and Helen Maitland. Group C will consist of Thomas Catford, Spencer Fulsom, Martin Bellows, and Sarah Neflack..."
     Sarah was elated. She had been chosen! It took all her discipline, but she managed to keep her dignity while walking to the stage and the appropriate instruction room. Despite her efforts, she was certain that everyone could sense her excitement. She wanted to do cartwheels, although they would be terribly inappropriate here. She waited eagerly for her instructions.
     The instructor explained how things worked from this point. "I want each of you to open your envelopes. You will find a pass that will permit you to reach the airport. It is critical that you do not lose this. As you are all quite aware, every location that can be used to leave the country is highly restricted. If you try to enter even the perimeter of the airport without a pass, you will be shot. Unfortunately, the enforcers have found that these security measures are imperative. For some unknown reason, there are still people that try to flee the country and escape GOD'S will.
     "You will also find plane tickets in two separate holders. The red holder holds the ticket to your destination; the green holder holds the ticket for your return trip. You will also find a passport (which will
serve as your identification in the foreign country) directions to your temporary home, your key card to allow you into that home and money to pay for expenses for the year. Be careful with the money. If you overspend you may not be able to survive the year. If, for an unforseen reason, you need additional funds for expenses for which we have not accounted, the leader of your Awakening Group will
need to contact us for approval. Leaders, you have been provided with contact information.
     "Remember, your purpose is to lead people to CHRIST. You will need to exercise caution in your interactions with the people you meet. The unbelievers may give arguments for unbelief. It is vitally important that you listen only for entries for attack. Do not listen to the arguments themselves. Satan is very crafty; and if you are careless, you may be deceived. You should only trust the WORD of GOD. You must shun anything that sounds like it should be right but disagrees with the WORD."
     Sarah looked through the materials given to her. The Progressive States's currency was called markers. Each marker was divided into 1,000 tokens. That was different from the money to which she had been accustomed. Denariuses were worth 15 holies each and each holy was worth 40 pieces. Sarah considered that the Beast was likely to use the currency method of the Conservative States. The book of Revelation indicated that the price for a ration of wheat would be a denarius.
     There were four weeks before departure. Sarah decided to make herself as ready as she could. She purchased a new BIBLE (Standard Commitment Version) and an Awakener's Guide. After they arrived at her home (in about a week) she studied the Awakener's Guide thoroughly. She wanted to know as many arguments as possible to lead people to the LORD.