Outer Dark

There was a prophet standing in the square with arms upheld in exhortation to the beggared multitude gathered there. […] The sun hung on the cusp of eclipse and the prophet spoke to them. This hour the sun would darken and all those souls would be cured of their afflictions before it appeared again. And the dreamer himself was caught up among the supplicants […] Me, he cried. Can I be cured? The prophet looked down as if surprised to see him there amidst such pariahs. The sun paused. He said: Yes, I think perhaps you will be cured. Then the sun buckled and dark fell like a shout. […] They waited a long time and it grew chill. […] It grew cold and more black and silent and some began to cry out and some despaired but the sun did not return.

Well neighbor, I says, I believe ye ort. He gives ye eyes to see and then he tuck em away. And maybe you never was much of a christian to start with and he figgered this’d bring ye round. They’s been more than one feller brought to the love of Jesus over the paths of affliction. And what better way than blind? In a world darksome as this’n I believe a blind man ort to be better sighted than most. […] The grace of God don’t rest easy on a man. It can blind him easy as not. It can bend him and make him crooked. And who did Jesus love, friends? The lame the halt and the blind that’s who. Them is the one scarred with God’s mercy. Stricken with his love. Ever legless fool and old blind mess like you is a flower in the garden of God. Amen.