The Face of Evil

We carry the baggage of good and evil in this life we travel.

We walk streets not of gold, but gravel. 

We hope to be spared the judges guilty gavel.

What do we do, to put the hate and pain behind?

What do we do to have our acts be just and kind?

For me, it happened long ago when I stared evil in the face.

I do not share this often, but on one star filled night…I put evil in its place.

In my early 20’s I was drifting, searching, and traveling the hi-ways with my thumb.

I was hitch-hiking to a destination unknown…hoping kindness would my way come.

With nothing more than the clothes on my back and the shoes on my feet

It was around 1984 I guess and I prayed some angel I would meet.

I had a small pack and in that pack was all my life treasures

They say a man is worth the possessions you can measure

For me it was a couple dollars, a knife, a lighter and my notebook.

I guess I was not of much value if measured by possession.

But I had something else worth more than the dollars obsession.

I had a King James Bible, with His words in red to console

I would spend hours off the hot pavement enriching my soul.

I would just open and read, letting the Spirit guide me to hidden treasures.

With no friends close and all the doubt about my future, this was my pleasure.

I prayed to understand the words, often a smile but mostly tears

I cried to the heavens to erase the daytime doubts and nighttime fears.

I have many stories from those traveling and searching days

And I met many people who helped along the way

But this is a story about a personal battle I was cast to play.

The night I put evil in its place, I was walking a high class subdivision.

I was somewhere in Texas, with the moon and stars in my vision.

I’ve never had much luck getting rides at three in the morning

Only time worse is when it’s storming with rain pouring.

So I wandered off the hi-way into a beautiful area of homes

There were landscaped yards and even some decorative gnomes.

I remember thinking…one day Lord…one day I’ll see this glory

But in the meantime I’ll hold to the faith that drives this story.

As I was walking down the middle of one of the calm streets

A pack of dogs from around the corner I would meet.

There was at least six or seven and growling with hate

I prayed…. Lord please don’t let this be my fate

When out from behind the pack I saw a magnificent sight

He was mostly marked in white and much bigger in height

This was no ordinary dog…he was wild and he was the Alpha.

He passed through the pack and stood there starring me down

I stood my ground and starred back their intentions unknown.

The big Alpha dog took a step forward, so I did the same

The rest of the untamed pack was familiar with this game.

Then I took the next step and bent to one knee

He took a step back and I was surprised to see

The rest of the pack slowly turned and walked away

The big Alpha turned and disappeared into the gray.

But that was not the evil that I would face that night

That was just a test of nerve, preparation for the fight.

So I continued my walk on a star and moon filled night

My soul yearning to take my spirit away in flight.

I was tired and eventually found a field to rest

In the middle stood a lone tree so I thought it best

To take a slumber under that old ancient tree

Let my worries be free and my dreams to see.

I felt protected by the trees branches

With the night I would take my chances.

Sometime later I awoke and was starring up through the tree

It was still dark but a vision I thought I could see.

As I lay there looking up the vision became more clear

It was a face, the face of evil and I was grasped in fear.

I felt paralyzed as I could not move, my eyes starring at this face.

I knew I could not stay; I had to get out of this place.

The face was like death…narrow cheeks and dark eyes

Blood stained teeth and my soul it seeked as a prize.

It looked down at me as if to laugh and in that moment the grasp was lost

I gathered up all my energy to get up for my soul was at stake and the cost.

This face of evil was not going to win and I began to back up away from the tree

The field had clumps of grass and I stumbled and fell backwards trying to flee.

Now he had me and the face grew larger as it came for me in my grief

But not this night for God had other plans and granted me relief.

As I scrambled to move my hand touched a rock, then two

The face was almost out of the tree and his skin was a grayish blue

I scrambled to my feet and found two piles of rocks at my feet

I was not going down without a fight, my spirit yet to taste defeat.

I started hurling those rocks at that face and every one that hit

Made that face fade and retreat…at one point its forehead I split

Back to the heights of the tree it went and disappeared from my sight

In all my days I cannot remember a more gratifying fight.

I had put evil in its place and some may say it was merely a dream

But proof remains that to this day in reality it would seem.

I remember looking at the ground and seeing one last rock

I picked it up and put it in my pack as the day started its clock.

Now was the daylight and on my way I had to be

In glitzy neighborhoods I was not what they wanted to see.

Sometime later as the day grew hot and I reached in my pack

There in the bottom was that rock that saved my back.

Dreams don’t often leave tangible proof of their realities

But here was that last rock, proof my encounter was no fantasy.

I put evil in its place that night…and thanked God for delivering me

To that place and space in time for me to see

All through my travels in those early years of searching

I knew behind every corner danger was lurking

But I held to my faith and believed in Words I heard long ago:

“Go into the night without a doubt or any fright.  Go into the night with confidence and open sight.

Go into the night knowing it has no power over you.  Go into the night and do not fear any evil. 

Go in Peace and those that hate will fall on their own swords…as I will be with you”.

Evil certainly still exists in our world…do your part to put it in its place…no matter the perceived realities.  His light is the rock of our faith that will split the darkness and shine forever. 

Luke Chapter 11 vs. 29 – 36….1^st John Chapter 1 vs. 5-7…. Psalm 150