Shadow Valley: Showing Mercy to Others, Part 2b

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Guest (Chuck): Previously on Paws & Tales.
Guest (King): Why don't my loyal ministers just kill me in my sleep?
Guest (Minister): It's dangerous being king.
Guest (Chuck): All these kids are here because of the sins that their parents committed. They too wait for the swamp. I hate this place.
Guest (Minister): Minister Witman, court is about to begin, is it not? You are accused of physically attacking the person of the Ministry of Finance, Madam Squeen. How do you plead?
Guest (King): I accept your admission of guilt. As King of Shadow Valley, I pardon you.
Guest (Chuck): I knew without a doubt that I had made the six most powerful animals in Shadow Valley my personal and mortal enemies. I could use some help.
Guest (Flint): You are not the King of Semeis.
Guest (Chuck): How do I get him to forgive me?
Guest (Flint): You simply ask him to forgive you. You are not the one to lead us from this dark place, but you are the one to find the one.
Guest (Chuck): I have to cut into that wound and clean it out.
Guest (Cindy): Are you sure?
Guest (Chuck): Please help me, Mister.
Guest (Cindy): Is he going to make it?
Guest (Flint): I don't know, hon. He's bad.
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Guest (Chuck): Well, I healed up on the outside. My wound was just an ugly scar, and I no longer felt any pain from it. I thought that it would feel free, saved, and whole. I did not. I felt stuck. No one's going to believe my story. I wasn't sure I did. I was angry at myself for the things that I had done and how everything I'd ever cared for or touched, for that matter, got destroyed. I didn't do it on purpose, but I just quit feeling. I quit feeling anything, really. Love, compassion, hate. Actually, I felt a lot of hate. I hated Goliath. I hated me. The only person I cared for at all was that crusty old Flint.
Guest (Flint): Chuck, come on in for some breakfast. Whoa, did you get all those hay bales up there this morning?
Guest (Chuck): Yep.
Guest (Flint): Son, you are a wonder. Come on in, let's get something to eat. Just thinking about you tossing those bales around makes me hungry.
Guest (Chuck): I'm fine. Go ahead without me.
Guest (Flint): Cindy made biscuits. This is only about the third time she's ever done that. And you are going to go in there and enjoy about ten of them. Just because you can carry a barn over your shoulder doesn't mean I can't tan your hide. Move it.
Guest (Chuck): Are they any good?
Guest (Flint): The biscuits? Terrible. We're both likely to lose a tooth on them. Now move it.
Guest (Chuck): I'm coming.
Guest (Flint): And clean up, son, you smell like a barn.
Guest (Chuck): You coot. I was on the inside, a fight waiting to happen. My anger was only just beneath the surface. Even at that moment when I was feeling good about the world, I turned around and caught my back on a nail sticking out of the center beam. I hit the beam so hard it cracked. Some days later, Flint and I were headed back to the house after working the fields all day. We were exhausted. That old coot was never too tired to talk.
Guest (Flint): You know, you are worse off by far than you think.
Guest (Chuck): Really?
Guest (Flint): By far. Some folks have farms that can't grow crops, some have sick kids, some even have enemies that want to kill them. They all got it better than you.
Guest (Chuck): Really?
Guest (Flint): Yes, sir, they do. You've cut yourself off from the world, Chuck. You have no joy, no pain. That's no way to live.
Guest (Chuck): I got plenty of pain from when I live with you.
Guest (Cindy): Well, you sure have taken your sweet time. I've had supper ready for half an hour.
Guest (Flint): Oh, I'm sorry, dear. We'll be right in, just got to take care of the horses. What is for supper?
Guest (Cindy): Soup. And I made two dozen biscuits.
Guest (Flint): You did? I'll take care of the horses. No, no need for that. I'd be happy to do it. I insist. I am an old man, and my system can't take any more of those biscuits. Get in there and eat as many as you can before I get back. I'm counting on you, son.
Guest (Cindy): What are you two talking about?
Guest (Flint): Maybe if we soak them in the soup. That seems like a worthwhile plan. I'll be in shortly.
Guest (Chuck): I'd gotten washed up and was finishing my second bad biscuit.
Guest (Cindy): You want another? We have plenty.
Guest (Chuck): I'd love another. Where's your father?
Guest (Cindy): I don't know, but I'm going to find out. What was that? The barn! The barn is collapsed!
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Guest (Chuck): The barn looked like a tent with the center pole missing, and we both knew Flint was in there. Flint! Flint!
Guest (Cindy): Daddy, where are you?
Guest (Flint): Flint, where are you? I'm in here. I'm coming. Okay, okay.
Guest (Cindy): Daddy, are you all right?
Guest (Flint): I'm fine. I'm perfectly fine.
Guest (Chuck): What happened?
Guest (Flint): Well, I'm not sure. I just tied the horses up, I was hanging up the harnesses, and they spooked. The whole barn came down around us. Horses are dead, and the barn's gone.
Guest (Cindy): Thank God you're all right, Daddy.
Guest (Flint): I'm fine. Not a scratch on me. I'm going to go get a drink of water.
Guest (Cindy): Chuck, what's the matter?
Guest (Chuck): It was my fault.
Guest (Cindy): That's ridiculous.
Guest (Chuck): I got mad because a nail poked me in the back, and I took a swing at the center post. The horses pulled on it, but I broke it. He saved my life, and I almost killed him.
Guest (Cindy): Chuck, it's okay. We can rebuild the barn.
Guest (Chuck): Don't touch me! Everything I touch I ruin.
Guest (Cindy): That's not true. If you'll just calm down.
Guest (Chuck): Leave me alone. Please, leave me alone. Chuck, can't you see what I see? I know your past is filled with things that you regret Things you haven't yet been able to forget You carry all the weight of things that no one sees Even God above has cast them deeper than the seas But far from all the shadows of your darkest night Lies a brighter world, won't you step into its light? The heart of God is calling, why can't you understand? That you have been forgiven by God's almighty hand He wants to heal your hurting and pour His love on you The heart of God is calling, why can't you hear it too? I wish there were a window I could take you to One that you'd look through and see yourself the way I do Because underneath your anger lies a gentle soul One that God can use if you'll let Him make you whole I know that there are reasons God has brought you here So I'm reaching out, hoping you will hear The heart of God is calling, why can't you understand? That you have been forgiven by God's almighty hand He wants to heal your hurting and pour His love on you The heart of God is calling, He wants to make you new The heart of God is calling, if only you could see He's reaching out to help you become the man you want to be Won't you let Him heal your hurting and pour His love on you? If you will leave your past behind Then I know that you will find The heart of God is calling And my heart is calling too.
Guest (Chuck): We worked on that barn for weeks. I learned a lot from Pastor Flint. A lot about carpentry and a lot about other things too.
Guest (Flint): That's just the way it was. I didn't make it up.
Guest (Chuck): But he wrote the Psalms.
Guest (Flint): Well, most of them. But he was also a warrior king. He was strong and fierce in battle, but he had a heart that was tender. He was a man after God's own heart. It can be done.
Guest (Chuck): I just don't see how you can be both.
Guest (Flint): Well, he was brave.
Guest (Chuck): So?
Guest (Flint): It takes courage to feel that deeply. You choose not to. You can be both strong and feel deeply. You just choose not to.
Guest (Chuck): You saying I'm not brave?
Guest (Flint): You? You're a coward.
Guest (Chuck): What?
Guest (Flint): Never met a bigger one. Never liked one before either. But I love you like a son. So there must be some hope for you. Now hold that up for me.
Guest (Chuck): A couple of days later, we were in town to get more lumber. Me and the two best people I've ever met riding into town together. It should have been one of the happiest moments of my life. But I, I was a coward, and I wouldn't let my heart be that open.
Guest (Cindy): Well, I need to spend some time in the general store. When you two are loaded up, just come back and get me.
Guest (Flint): That sounds like it could be expensive.
Guest (Cindy): Yes, it does. Maybe you should go with us to the lumberyard. I'm shopping for your birthday present.
Guest (Flint): Oh, pick you up when we're done.
Guest (Chuck): Just as we were heading out, a wolf came racing up the road in a panic.
Guest (Wolf): Help me! I need help! Where's the sheriff?
Guest (Flint): We don't have a sheriff. What's the matter, friend?
Guest (Wolf): The bandits have taken all of the children from my village! I need your help. We need to get as many men as we can. We need to get them back. Will you help?
Guest (Chuck): No.
Guest (Wolf): No?
Guest (Chuck): I don't know any of those children. Not my problem.
Guest (Wolf): The bandits are taking children from all of the villages. If they aren't stopped, they'll come here eventually.
Guest (Chuck): I don't know any children here either.
Guest (Flint): Of course we'll help.
Guest (Chuck): Suit yourselves.
Guest (Cindy): What's wrong with you?
Guest (Chuck): Probably several things.
Guest (Cindy): Why in the world wouldn't you look at me? Look at the army that's gathering here. Old farmers with rakes and pitchforks going after bandits. It's crazy.
Guest (Cindy): That is my point. If you are too dead inside to go for the children, then you will go for my father. He is old and has a bad back. You will go and see to it that that brave old bear comes home to me. Do you understand?
Guest (Flint): All right! Come on, all of you! We've no time to waste!
Guest (Chuck): This is going to go bad. I can feel it in my bones. I followed the ramshackle bunch of shopkeepers, farmers, and one old pastor. They couldn't have made more noise if they wanted to. And the whole bunch, there was not three of them I'd want next to me in a fight. Actually, we went a lot further than I thought we would before.
Guest (Wolf): Take cover!
Guest (Chuck): I knew this was going to happen. It was chaos all around. Bandits were riding in and out of the trees so fast most of my army couldn't figure out what to do. Look out, Sanders! Don't do it. You get behind this tree and stay here.
Guest (Sanders): He's been hit!
Guest (Chuck): He's fine. Just sit tight and they'll leave.
Guest (Sanders): Well, how do you know that?
Guest (Chuck): I know. The bandits were just playing with us, mostly trying to scare us from ever coming back. If we just look scared, they would leave us to crawl home. And believe me, we looked scared. I turned my back on Flint for one moment.
Guest (Sanders): Flint! Flint, no!
Guest (Chuck): And the old coot, he ran out to help old Sanders. He scrambled into the open and stood over his friend, ready to take on the world.
Guest (Flint): I got you, Sanders. You'll be fine, just sit tight.
Guest (Chuck): Out of nowhere, a bandit rode in and clubbed Flint from behind and sent him to the ground. The bandit stopped, turned around, and was riding back for another pass. Flint would not survive another blow like that. No you don't! I ran in like a freight train. The bandit was just about to scream when I came in at an angle and knocked the horse and bandit to the ground. Go! Get him! I stood over Flint and Sanders and fought like a tornado. They came from every direction, but I saw them coming, every one of them. In just a few minutes, they were wounded and beaten bandits crawling off into the woods. I looked down and saw Pastor Flint staring at me.
Guest (Flint): I have never seen anything like that in all my days. I'm glad you're on our side.
Guest (Chuck): Come on, we got to get back. Hey, what? What is that? Where's it coming from? Over there. It's okay, kids. No one's going to hurt you.
Guest (Flint): Oh, sweet babies. We are here to help. It's going to be fine. Come here. Come here, bring me a canteen. What, what are your names?
Guest (Markie): I'm Markie, and this is my sister, Molly.
Guest (Chuck): We fed them and calmed them down. After a while, they felt comfortable enough to tell us what happened to them.
Guest (Markie): They came in the night and took us, all of the kids. They put us on their horses with them, and we rode farther up into the mountains than I've ever been. When we got to their camp, they lined us all up and a scary-looking vulture came and looked each of us over.
Guest (Flint): What was he looking for?
Guest (Markie): I don't know, but just in front of me in line was a pretty big wolf cub. Then one of the bandits called out to the vulture.
Guest (Bandit): Hey, it's probably him, isn't it? I bet it's him. Think he's the one.
Guest (Vulture): Just because he's big? Look at me, boy. Look in my eyes. No. He's not the one. Go and get me more! None of these is the one! Go get me more!
Guest (Chuck): Look at me, Markie. Did they say it like "he's not the one," or was it "he's not the one"?
Guest (Markie): He said he was looking for the one.
Guest (Chuck): What does that mean? I think it means they're looking for who I'm supposed to be looking for.
Guest (Flint): Who is that?
Guest (Chuck): I don't know. He told me to go find the one and train him.
Guest (Flint): Train him for what?
Guest (Chuck): To go back and release the prisoners from Shadow Valley.
Guest (Flint): You've got to be kidding. Sanders, Markie, then what happened?
Guest (Markie): Then they let us go.
Guest (Chuck): They just told you to leave?
Guest (Markie): They rode us out into the woods and left us.
Guest (Flint): There have got to be lost kids wandering all over the place.
Guest (Markie): Will you take us home now? We're from Benning. It's a little village.
Guest (Chuck): I know where it is. I'm sorry, we've got to get back to Wildwood.
Guest (Flint): Of course we will. We'll take you home right this very minute. Sanders, take the kids for a while.
Guest (Sanders): Sure, Pastor Flint.
Guest (Flint): What is the matter with you?
Guest (Chuck): What? You're wounded, along with almost everyone else. I need to get you back.
Guest (Flint): I am not doing anything until I see those kids in the arms of their mother. You, you're some kind of stone. Don't you feel anything for those kids? How do you live with yourself?
Guest (Chuck): I promised to get you back safely.
Guest (Flint): Oh, of course you did. That's why you came, isn't it? You have nothing in your heart for those kids. You just came to look after me. Ron, start back with the others. I'm going to Benning. Tell Cindy I'll be along as soon as I can.
Guest (Chuck): Just you?
Guest (Flint): Yeah.
Guest (Chuck): We're both going.
Guest (Flint): Suit yourself.
Guest (Chuck): We marched through the woods all that day and into the night. Then finally, we made it to the dusty little mountain village of Benning. Is that your mom?
Guest (Markie): Let me down! Let me down! Mommy! Mommy!
Guest (Molly): Mommy!
Guest (Mother): Markie! Molly! Where did you find them?
Guest (Flint): My name's Pastor Flint. This is my big friend, Chuck. We found them beyond the ford.
Guest (Mother): Did you see my children? Do you know where they are?
Guest (Chuck): No, ma'am. We just found these two.
Guest (Mother): Will you go and look for my children?
Guest (Chuck): No. Hasn't your village sent out searchers?
Guest (Mother): Yes. We can't find a trace of them. No one knows where the bandits go. Oh please, won't you help me?
Guest (Chuck): I'm sorry. I have a promise to keep.
Guest (Mother): But I need my children back!
Guest (Shirley): Martha, Martha, please, get them something to eat. It'll be all right. My name is Shirley. Please, come in and sit down. Thanks. Here, you must be thirsty. Thanks. What? You're looking at me like you, I don't know.
Guest (Shirley): I'm sorry. I knew someone very much like you a very long time ago. Can I help you with your wound?
Guest (Chuck): I'm not wounded.
Guest (Shirley): I think you are wounded very deeply.
Guest (Chuck): I'm not sure I understand.
Guest (Shirley): Maybe not today. But you have been badly wounded. I've seen it before. You've been in too many battles, seen too much suffering.
Guest (Chuck): I've seen, yes, a lot of things.
Guest (Shirley): You've cut yourself off. You can't feel anything for others, can you?
Guest (Chuck): I want to. I just.
Guest (Shirley): You're afraid to feel.
Guest (Chuck): I'm not sure what to do. Everyone I care about gets hurt.
Guest (Shirley): I think you need to just open yourself up.
Guest (Chuck): I can't do that.
Guest (Shirley): Well, then, maybe you just have to let others care for you. I don't know. Markie, Molly, come in here. Oh, hi, Big Chuck. Big Chuck here is hurt inside. I want you to love on him, thank him, and tell him how you feel.
Guest (Markie): Are you hurt, Big Chuck?
Guest (Chuck): I think so.
Guest (Markie): Come down here. You're the best, Big Chuck. Thank you.
Guest (Molly): Thank you for saving us. I love you, Big Chuck.
Guest (Chuck): It hurts.
Guest (Shirley): Maybe. But it's making you better. This is how deep healing begins. Sometimes God uses others, other Christians to start the healing. You've got to let yourself be loved by us, and you've got to let yourself be loved by God or the healing will never happen.
Guest (Markie): Don't cry. You're going to get better.
Guest (Chuck): I think so. I'm going now.
Guest (Shirley): What about the children?
Guest (Chuck): I will bring them back to you. I promise.
Guest (Shirley): Thank you. Thank you.
Guest (Flint): I can have maybe ten, fifteen men ready to go by morning.
Guest (Chuck): I'm going alone.
Guest (Flint): Chuck, you need to let others help. I have a feeling you always go it alone.
Guest (Chuck): I'm not just going after the children. I'm going after the bandits who took them. They're not going to stop.
Guest (Flint): You're right. All the more reason to ask for help.
Guest (Chuck): We'll head out in the morning.
Insight for Living: To order a copy of the Goliath collection, Goliath: King of Shadow Valley, just log on to pawsandtales.org. Shadow Valley Part 4 was written and directed by David Carl. The song "Heart of God," Cindy's song, was written by Sandy Howell. Music was by Tim Hosman, and our sound designer was Jerry Swafford. Paws & Tales is an Insight for Living production.