Post by Joseph Blaze on Dec 19, 2021 20:49:37 GMT -5
“Forgiveness will help you more than the person you forgive.” - Catherine Pulsifer
OFF CAMERA
It was like any other Sunday at The Savior’s Compound. The Savior’s Sermon would be going ahead while the kids would be attending the equivalent to what you’d consider Sunday School. The Savior was giving a sermon to his followers as “The Messenger” Joseph Blaze was in a different room dealing with the Sunday School duties. Joseph was dressed in a long black robe with gold trim around the bottom and around the cuffs of the sleeves. As Joseph stood there talking to the kids, “The Protector” Lurch could be seen standing in the background watching on. Lurch had taken an oath to protect Joseph and he knew if he failed to do so, The Savior would deal with him accordingly.
“So boys and girls, today I’m here instead of Mary Jane because I have a story for you on forgiveness. Forgiveness is a powerful weapon, it saves you from building up anger within. Not only that it will cause you to hate and hate is a horrible thing. One thing I want you all to do this Christmas is to forgive someone for whatever it might be. It might be something as little as them breaking your favorite toy to eating the last one of your Christmas chocolates. Just earlier I hard to forgive Mr. Lurch for doing just that, taking my last Christmas chocolate.”
All Lurch does is just stare at Joseph as the kids look at Lurch before quickly averting their gaze back to Joseph. Lurch was a very intimidating figure even if he didn’t say much, it was just that look he gave and his pure size that attributed to that.
“Another person I’ve had to forgive is Gin Kuromiya because he beat me in my first match in Project Underground. Yes, as everyone is already aware, The Savior has sent me on a mission to send a message through the wrestling world. Although I forgive Gin it seems he still needs to go to confession for his sins. Lying isn’t a good thing and you did just that. For some reason, you seem to think that I claimed I speak for one I call my master. Not once have a claimed such a thing. I don’t have a master, I do have a Savior though. The one I claim to speak for is The Savior, he is the one I’m sending a message for. I forgive you for those mistakes Gin just make sure that you’re willing to accept your wrongdoings and that will be the end of the matter. If not, I will have to send a message that will involve you paying for your sins.”
An evil looking smile appeared on Joseph’s face as the kids focus on every word Joseph had to say.
“Before I strayed off the subject of forgiveness and the story I was going to tell you, let me actually begin the story. It was back when I was a boy about eight or nine like most of you here. Now some may think you’re too young to hear this, whereas I don’t think that and I believe that this story you need to hear. Unlike all of you here, at that age, I hadn’t been saved by our Savior and was in fact witnessing a lot of things no person should witness let alone a kid. For years I allowed what happened to eat me up inside, I allowed the hate to infect me and to turn into a rage I couldn’t control. I always promised myself that I wouldn’t turn out as my father did. That I wouldn’t end up in the same place that he did either. The place I’m referring to is jail. It’s where he ended up dying too and unfortunately for him he didn’t have someone like our Savior to save him. What is even more unfortunate is that my mom didn’t have anyone to save her either. I began to feel like the world hated me, that it was out to get me and that I was unwanted. Please forgive me kids but I have to share this with you. I have to share this story with you to show how lucky we all are today to have our Savior. My father had been drinking all day, this was something I had got used to just as my mom had as well, only that wasn’t all my mom had to get use to. At first, my father wouldn’t do it in front of me but that didn’t mean I didn’t hear the screams.”
The kids are unsure of how to act or deal with what they’re hearing. They just sit still as Joseph pauses for a moment.
“The first time I ever witnessed my father beat my mom I didn’t know what to do. Pretty much like all of you’re doing now, I sat still in shock and unable to know how to react to it. It got worse and worse every time it happened after. The one time I tried to stop it, I also become the target of his violence. This is all because he’d drink all day and that’s all he would do. The last time I witnessed it was Christmas Eve. I was tied to a chair and made to watch as my own father beat my mom. My father made a run for it and left me tied to the chair to sit and watch as my mom died. It was until the neighbor come round on Christmas Day that we were discovered and by then it was too late for my mom. My father hadn’t got far, he’d jumped in his truck drunk and ended up driving into a tree. I use to think that the only reason my father survived that and my mom didn’t survive was because the world wanted to punish me but that wasn’t the case at all.”
Trying to keep himself together, Joseph smiles as he prepares himself to finish the story.
“I now realize thanks to our Savior that the world took my mom from this world to end her suffering. The only reason my father survived was to make me realize that forgiveness is a strength. That it takes a strong person to forgive someone for what they’d done. I forgive my father and two days after that the world decided it was the end for him. You see if I’d decided to wait any longer, I wouldn’t have been able to show my father that I’m stronger than him, more of a man and that I wasn’t going to let him ruin the rest of my life. That Christmas wasn’t a good one for me but I have learned that doesn’t mean every other Christmas should be a bad one too. My mom wouldn’t want me to allow that to be the case either. So this Christmas kids remember that forgiveness can be one of the greatest gifts ever. Also, remember that forgiveness isn’t just for Christmas, it’s for life!”
"Forgive others, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace.” - Jonathan Lockwood
ON CAMERA
“Christopher Graves. Tut, tut, tut!”
The source of the voice walks into view of the camera. It’s clearly “The Messenger” Joseph Blaze. He has that trademark grin on his face. The kind of creepy grin that would get a man like Arik Holt locked up.
“I’m happy that you believe in yourself so much to refer to yourself as The G.O.A.T. of Project Underground. What I’m not happy about is the arrogance that you show from referring to yourself as such. I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news but you’re the only one who believes that you’re The G.O.A.T. but more power to you for having that belief. There’s also something else about you, you’re trying to deceive the world with your words. You try to convince everyone that you fell in love with wrestling but I see right through you. You don’t do this for the love of wrestling, you’re in wrestling for the glory, the fame, the gold, and for the financial gain. It’s a sin for you to lie Christopher and as “The Messenger” it’s my job to send a message whatever that message might be. It seems as of now that message is to make you pay for your sins. I do whatever it takes in the name of my Savior to make sure every message is delivered win or lose. I’m sure you’re going to brag about how you’re The G.O.A.T. of Project Underground, how you won in your debut, and that I didn’t. You see that’s the difference between you and me Christopher. I’m always happy to accept that my path isn’t always going to be successful but it is going to be righteous. It’s rather sad the way you’re, to be honest, maybe you just need saving.”
As soon as he’d finished talking, Joseph steps to the side to show the wall behind him. On the wall was a message…
“It’s not too late, you too can be saved.” - The Savior
After a minute or two, Joseph steps back in front of the camera.
“It’s true Christopher. Even for a man of your arrogance, it’s not too late. I’m sure after I’ve made you pay for your sins you’ll accept The Savior saving you. It’ll be a shame if you don’t accept but it won’t stop me from forgiving you. You see I won’t be forgiving you because you deserve forgiveness but purely because I deserve peace. Peace in knowing that I’m a better man than you for accepting. Something I did agree with that Gin said is that it does take strength to accept that you need guidance; only the foolhardy walk alone, blind and unaided into the wide, uncaring world. This is something that used to apply to me but I was awoken from being broken. I accepted the guidance that I needed and now it’s my job to get others to do the same by any means necessary. If that means I have to dish out some pain or receive it in return so be it. I know that I’ll be forgiven by The Savior because the message would’ve been delivered.”
Holding his arms out to the side, Joseph stands there with a smile on his face. Once he was done, he straightens himself out before getting back to business.
“Mr. Graves, I know everyone doesn’t have the same beliefs as me, The Savior or those he has saved. I also know the religion isn’t from everyone but what I do know is that those who are against religion are definitely against me. Just for a moment, just from me to you. I want to tell you that although The Savior was the one to save me, he wasn’t the reason I accepted religion into my life. I accepted religion into my life because it helped me to become reborn. Just like Jesus Christ had a Second Coming, just picture this as my Second Coming. Only no one will be nailing me to a cross.”
There is a shake of the head and an eye roll from Joseph.
“Christopher Graves, just remember that no matter the outcome your gift from me to you is forgiveness. Another thing to remember is that Forgiveness isn’t just for Christmas, it’s for life. One last thing before you get back to your life of arrogance and sin.”
As he walks out of view of the camera Joseph starts to sing…
“He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.”
The singing from Joseph fades out more the further away he gets until it goes completely quiet.
Fade Out.
