In search of the lover from her dream, God traveled long and far and wide in the world. Through this journey she discovered diseases, death, abusive people, selfish leaders, liars, cheats, maladies of all kinds, and those who slay and devour love to feed themselves. And God began to dispair.

Having on that same journey discovered great powers within herself, she made to withdraw from the world. Within herself she molded and crafted, stitched and sewed, until there existed a second world, as real as the first but more pure. Indeed it was as pure as she might conceive. In that world there was no death, no disease, no abusers, no selfish leaders, no liars, no cheats, no maladies of any kind, and none who slay and devour love to feed themselves. Rather, there was everlasting life, perfect health, people of mutual respect, benevolent leaders, tellers of truth, honest dealers, joys of every kind, and people who beget and nurture love for love’s sake.

Best of all, there was in that second world a lover, alike to her dream in every dimension of both body and heart. The lover opened to her, and extended a hand to her. All that remained was to create a wall to seal that second world off from the first, and then to live there for all eternity.

God called upon her powers to create two creatures of clay to erect the wall. She set them working and then made to enter. But as she was on the verge she heard the cry of a lonely soul of earth, and looked back. At once, the two creatures completed the wall, and the second world was forever sealed against her.

Thus the world of paradise withdrew into itself, never to be heard from again in all eternity.

Image Credit: BonnyBBX

Rotting Silver is a column devoted to this Earth in all its tarnished radiance: poetry, prose, and parables of ugliness alloyed with joy.

This piece was first published at The Witch’s Voice.

The Author

B. T. Newberg:  Since the year 2000, B. T. has been practicing meditation and ritual from a naturalistic perspective. He currently volunteers as Education Director for the Spiritual Naturalist Society, where he created and now teaches an online course in naturalistic spirituality (including Naturalistic Paganism!). His writings can also be found at Patheos and Pagan Square, as well as right here at HP.

He also hosts a new podcast called Dead Ideas: The Podcast of Extinct Thoughts and Practices. It explores ideas once believed to be true, but no longer.

Professionally, he teaches English as a Second Language, and hopes to begin a PhD program in the psychology of religion soon.  After living in Minnesota, England, Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, he currently resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with his wife and cat.

After founding HumanisticPaganism.com in 2011 and serving as managing editor till 2013, he now serves as advising editor, and feels blessed to be a part of this community.