The Dump - Part Five

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Then, as if from a distance, Andrew heard the words of the Prince. “I give you the authority to tell Sickslug to leave you …  Your chains are gone now.  Sickslug has no more power to force you to do anything you don’t choose to do. … You must resist in the power I give you.  If you try to resist Sickslug in your own strength, you will fail. Depend on Me. I will give you victory.”

I give you authority… Your chains are gone… 
He has no more power…

Depend on Me. Depend on Me. Depend on Me.

Andrew knew what he had to do. Suddenly, he straightened up and stood tall. Looking Sickslug right in the eye, he declared, “No. Never again! I may not be strong enough on my own to resist you, Sickslug. But the Prince has already beaten you, and I stand with Him. You have no more power over me. You know it. I know it. Now, get out of my sight. I want nothing more to do with you or anything you have to offer.”

As Andrew exercised his newly granted authority as an adopted son of the King, the smirk fell from Sickslug’s face. He suddenly seemed much smaller than he had before. The paper with the filthy picture fell from his hands.

“I’m leaving now,” said Andrew. “I won’t be back, except to invite these poor fellows who you have picking through your garbage to join me at the King’s banquet table.”

Turning, Andrew saw another young man in filthy, smelly clothes watching the altercation. Andrew recognized the hungry, empty look in his eyes. It was the same look that he had seen in his own eyes just the morning before.

“What about you, my friend,” Andrew asked. “Do you want something better than you have found here?” The young man’s eye’s spoke volumes. “Come with me,” Andrew invited. “I’ll introduce you to the King.”

Sickslug opened his mouth to protest, but Andrew silenced him with a glance that reflected the Prince’s authority. The dirty, ragged figure stepped toward Andrew and away from the garbage dump.

“Let’s go,” said Andrew. With his hand on the shoulder of his new friend, they walked together to the palace of the King.

Part One     Part Two     Part Three     Part Four     

The Dump - Part Four

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When Andrew woke up the next morning, he began to think about all the other young men who spent their days with Sickslug in the garbage dump. They had no idea what they were missing.   

He was a little afraid that everyone would laugh at him if he told them that the King had adopted him, but he decided to go to the village anyway.  Who knows, there might be someone who would believe him and want to come to the King’s palace as well.

So Andrew made his way to the village.  He planned to get there early in the morning before most of the people he knew had headed toward the dump.  But something strange happened.   

Actually, it wasn’t so strange, because the Prince had already warned him about it. Andrew didn’t remember the warning, though.  All on their own, Andrew’s feet took him down the old, familiar path to the garbage dump.  Before he knew it, there Andrew was, standing next to the stinking pile of rubbish.

“What am I doing here?” Andrew thought in horror.  “I didn’t plan to come here.  I don’t even want to be here.  Not after eating at the King’s table and talking with Him.”  Just about the time he was ready to turn away and leave, along came Sickslug with a wicked sneer on his face.

“Oh, don’t you look nice, all dressed up in those fancy clothes,” he sneered sarcastically.  “You probably think you are too good for all of us at the dump now.  Well, I have news for you.  Nothing is any different today than it was yesterday.  You think you are free of my chain.  Well, think again.”

Sickslug pulled a magazine out of his coat pocket and opened it to a particularly disturbing picture, the kind that Andrew used to like to look at. “Come on,” he said.  “You know you want to look at this.  You always liked this stuff. Come on, you know you want it.”

“No,” Andrew cried out, cowering like a puppy that expected to be kicked. “No, I don’t want that. Not anymore. Please, please just leave me alone.”

Despite Andrew’s protests, Sickslug waved the picture in front of his face. “Come on, Andrew. Just a peek won’t hurt. Just one little look and you’ll remember how much you enjoyed this.” The oily voice was convincing. Surely one little look wouldn’t be that bad. Old habits die hard, and Andrew’s old habits were not dead yet.

Slowly, excruciatingly, Andrew’s eyes began to turn toward the image on the page. He wasn’t strong enough to resist this temptation. Sickslug smirked, certain he had won.

(To be continued ...)

Part One     Part Two     Part Three              Part Five

The Dump - Part Three

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My Son fought with Sickslug long ago.  The Prince defeated him. Because of that, anyone who becomes a part of my family can be free of Sickslug’s chains.  If you really want to be free, I will make you my son, and the Prince will break off those invisible chains.  He will give you the strength to refuse Sickslug’s garbage.  Is this what you want?”

Andrew’s eyes gave the answer.  He had only been in the hallway of the palace, but already he could see the difference between the garbage dump and the King’s home.  Oh yes, he certainly did want all that the King offered.

And so the King adopted Andrew into His family.  The Prince Himself took Andrew to a beautiful room that was to be his own and prepared a tub of hot water for a bath. 

As the Prince laid out clean clothes that were fit for the son of the King, he explained to Andrew that he no longer had to listen to anything Sickslug had to say.  “I give you the authority to tell Sickslug to leave you whenever he tries to draw you back to the garbage dump.  Your chains are gone now.  Sickslug has no more power to force you to do anything you don’t choose to do. However, you have spent many years developing a habit of searching through Sickslug’s garbage.  Even though the chain is no longer there, you will still be tempted to return to your old habits.  You must resist in the power I give you.  If you try to resist Sickslug in your own strength, you will fail. Depend on Me. I will give you victory.”

“I will remember,” Andrew said.  And he really meant it.  He enjoyed a meal with the King and the Prince.  The food was like nothing he had ever tasted before.  Certainly, nothing he found in the garbage ever compared to this. 

After the meal was finished, the king and the Prince led Andrew into the library, a cozy, pleasant room with a cheery fire in the fireplace. As Andrew relaxed there, he realized that for the first time in his life, he actually was satisfied.  There was no more empty longing in his heart.  Everything was wonderful.  When the evening came to an end, Andrew climbed the stairs to his own bedroom, and slept the night through in peace. 

The next morning,...

(To be continued ...)

Part One     Part Two               Part Four     Part Five