Swordlight: Benjamin's Tribe

By Joy Long

What was it?!
Sadie strained without breathing to hear once again. There were no wolves sited in Missouri as of yetor were there? Her mind swirled with remembrances of the wolf figurine, the papers, the tribe.and then there was Benjamin. The pieces to the puzzle were slowly coming together. But there continues to be one piece that remained unsolved. Where did Benjamin come from? How did he get here? WHY was he here?
AHWooooee!
There it was once again as if it were beckoning her to the edge of the shaded woods. Sadie couldnt help but entwine herself in the mystery. Could she figure it out or was it for her alone to know? Only He knows!

Long has created this fictional allegory pointing troubled teens, parents of, and Churches to a phenomenal message of how by showing Christs love we can break down barriers and addictive bondages when Church programs, rules and regulations fail. In a society that seems to be spiraling out of control with technology and tolerance towards immoral behavior costing us the frantic explosion of outraged youth looking for what is real, there is but one and only one answerJesus Christ and showing His love to be the all encompassing answer to what is real and eternal. We must all face the fact that we were each created to look for and find our one and only Hero on this journey we call life. Will you take your position as a true Benjamite and guide others to the Hero?

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Apr 29, 2011
• ISBN: 9781463400132

Joy Long

Joy Long resides with her husband John Long, who is Associate Pastor of Christian Fellowship of Jefferson City, Missouri. Joy has been very involved with her husband in Prison Ministry for many years. Joy has also authored another book, 'A Line in the Sand' Diaries of a forgiven adulteress, a personal testimony of how God healed her from addictions and saved her marriage.

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© 2011. Joy Long. All rights reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 04/28/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4634-0012-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4634-0011-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4634-0013-2 (e)

Printed in the United States of America

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

This book is dedicated to

Matthew Benjamin Cole

who is and will always

be a warrior in God’s eyes!

Cover Photograph by Lori Baumgartner

Illustrations Drawn by Jon Humfleet

The Search - Lindsey.jpg

Contents

Prologue

In the Beginning

The Tribe

The Volcano

Benoni

The Morning Wolf

Benjamin’s Weakness

By The Way Café

Benjamin Is Tried

It’s Time to Fight!

Dividing the Spoil

He Went after the One!

You Will Know Him

Benjamin’s Gate

The Broken Wolf

Redeeming Love

The Forgotten Wounded

Benjamin and the Wolf

I Am My Beloved’s

Predator or Shepherd

Benjamin Will Be Leading Them

He Died for You

He Bled for You

The Cross

His Compassion

Beyond Rising

Prologue

The deer were scarce, and the shadows thickened as the evening sun settled behind the cypress trees on the west bank. Benjamin had held his silence long enough as he looked up to his dad.

What do you think, Dad? Maybe try again tomorrow morning?

Jacob winked at Benjamin.

Why don’t we! Put your sling in my pack and load up the lamb leftovers. We’d better head back. I’m getting bushed anyway.

It was a long walk back to the outer city where Benjamin lived with his brothers and father. Benjamin treasured the times hunting with his father, and the other brothers knew that, being the youngest, he was his father’s favorite. He carefully watched the rocky path lined with dried sagebrush since it was getting dark. Snakes and wild boars occasionally crossed in front of them when it was getting this late.

Benjamin’s feet were tired, and he could feel sleep overcoming him by the time they reached home. The soft glow of the fire pit welcomed them both with the smell of savory stew filling their nostrils and enticing them to a bowl full before bed. The pit lined with rocks still had glowing coals to keep the stew warm until Ben and his dad could get home. Ben helped himself while Jacob unloaded their supplies just outside the house. He didn’t want to wake the other boys, who were already bedding down from a hard day’s work. When Jacob came back over to the fire, he joined Ben who was tearing apart bread and sopping up stew as if he were famished.

Whoa, boy! Slow down, or you’ll have nightmares tonight eating that much!

Benjamin’s eyes gleamed at his father with adoration. Can’t help it, Dad! I could eat the whole pot. Joseph really did it good this time!

The red juice dribbled down his chin and hit his chest as he grinned at his father. Joseph, who was the next oldest, was the cook of the family. He always cooked with his favorite little brother in mind.

They both reclined on the ground and leaned on one elbow as they finished the last morsels in their bowls and watched the fire slowly dwindle to glowing coals. Ben’s eyelids were heavier than he had the strength to keep open, so he grunted, lifted his tired body off the ground, and stumbled to his mat inside. The hewn limestone walls gave off a cool musty smell that comforted Ben after a warm day of hunting. The floor dust had been recently swept by the maids before they turned in, and all the sleeping mats were in place. Ben’s brothers were already snoring as he and his father crept in.

See you in the morning, Dad!

Good night, Son. We’ll get the big one tomorrow, you’ll see!

It didn’t take long for sleep to overcome Benjamin, once he laid his head on his cushioned mat. His aching body kept him from getting to a deep sleep, though, as he shifted back and forth, trying to find comfort deep into the night. His dreams were filled with swinging his sling and trying to hit one of the biggest deer he had ever seen, looking back to his proud father when he killed it. Then suddenly as if it were bright daylight, Ben started dreaming a different scene. He was standing alone atop a ridge, looking down into a valley where there was nothing but desolation. It was filled with dead sage bushes, large rocks, and dry streambeds. There was no sign of life or any living being in this valley.

All of a sudden a tall stranger startled Benjamin from behind, saying, Benjamin, I have something to tell you! Benjamin nearly jumped out of his skin, almost tripping down the ridge.

He caught himself, landing on his back, and stood up slowly to face this stranger. Who are you? Benjamin’s heart began beating rapidly and his breath was short as fear overcame him. The stranger’s face was so bright that Benjamin couldn’t make out his features. He felt the stranger wanted it this way as he stood with the sun behind him.

Pay no mind! I have something I want you to know and do for me.

What? Benjamin edged backward warily.

Benjamin, you are going to a new place … where you have never been before. I am taking you there myself. You need not fear because I will be with you always.

Benjamin felt the sweat break out on his face as the hot sun bore down on his body. Questions started swirling in his head. Where am I going, and how do I get there?

I want you to do a job. You may not understand right now, but you will in the end. All you have to do is trust.

What if I don’t want to go? I like it here! And … what if I don’t like it? Can I come back?

The stranger ignored the questions and continued. This is not your will but it is mine. The purpose is for the coming age!

The sun got so bright that Benjamin shielded his face and eyes from the raging heat. Then he heard a long rumble, and a shadow covered him with a cooling relief. When he opened his eyes and gradually peeked through the crook of his arm, the stranger was gone. Benjamin finally took a deep breath and relaxed his tense muscles but still could not get his body to move. He shifted his eyes to and fro looking for any sign of this man.

Where did he go? Who was he? Was that an angel?

He rubbed his chin and looked around him. He saw that the land was very flat and familiar to him. He was back out in the wilderness where he and his father had been hunting.

In the distance he could hear his father calling his name. Benjamin … Benjamin.

Benjamin turned to wave at his father coming down the path when …

Benjamin!

He opened his eyes, startled to see that he had been dreaming for some time and now it was morning. Jacob was bent over his mat, looking into his face with a worried look.

Are you okay, boy?

Ben leaned up on his elbows and squint his eyes against the low sunlight glaring through the window. He tried to make out the outline of the threshing mats that hung on the walls. Then he swung his head toward the noise coming from out in front of their stone dwelling. His brothers were gathering their implements to begin their threshing. Through the open door he saw a couple of the donkeys swish their tails to keep the flies off as they waited for the boys to load them up for the field work.

Joseph came back into the house to grab a sickle and noticed Ben awake. So, sleeping late this morning? Then he winked at Ben and slipped out the door.

The maids were banging floured bowls in preparation for the morning bread dough. Ben slowly looked back up at his dad and rubbed his eyes.

I’m not sure what was going on … I think I was dreaming.

You were thrashing around like you were fighting a wild animal or something!

I don’t know … it was sure weird!

Well, we’ll have to wait to go hunting until tonight; the cistern isn’t putting out water right. You can go practice!

That’s okay. I think my buddies and I are going to ride the carts.

That’s fine. I think the horses are ready, but do the maids a favor and pull some reeds for the wheat, okay?

Yay, yay!

Benjamin watched his dad walk away and lay a moment longer on the ground trying to figure out what he had seen in his dream. After shrugging his shoulders and getting up, he managed to down some bread and milk before his friends arrived. They were anxious to get their horses and carts on the road and have some fun. The morning sun was barely cresting on the horizon, fashioning some of the most brilliant hues of orange, red, and yellow that Ben had ever seen. This is going to be a good day! he thought as he stuffed his slingshot into his pocket just in case he had time to practice.

In the Beginning

The wooden floors creaked under Sadie’s weary feet as she shuffled down the hallway with her hairbrush in hand. She flipped the light on in the bathroom and blinked at the bright light. As she heard the rooster’s early wakeup call, she glanced toward the window just in time to see the first ray of sun creeping through the trees in the backyard.

She pressed against the sink and looked in the mirror, scanning her face for any new blemishes that had tried to overtake her plain adolescent, pearly face during the night. Softly she sighed, Another Friday. The mundane routine was so familiar that she could do it in her sleep. A tight ponytail was the best she could muster and she smoothed her wrinkled white blouse while leaning out the door to see if she was the only one awake. Two more rooms down the hallway, her father’s room was still quiet, and nothing stirred except the clock on the wall downstairs that ticked with a loud clacking rhythm.

Sadie grabbed her tennis shoes from the closet and padded softly down the wood stairs in her sock feet to the kitchen. She went to work cooking the usual oatmeal, eggs, bacon and toast that she and her father routinely ate for breakfast. As soon as the eggs were done, she hurried to make herself an egg sandwich this morning since she was running a little late. She wrapped it in a paper towel and stuffed it in her book bag. The coffeepot continued perking as she passed into the living room. The rest of the breakfast would stay warm for her dad’s early morning chores.

She could barely manage opening the lock on the front screen door since her arms were filled with her book bag, bulging with her high school textbooks and her job apron. Sticking her tongue out in great concentration, she caught the screen door with her toe to keep it from slamming and waking her dad.

As she bounded off the porch, there was nothing to suggest that this day might be different, let alone memorable or life-changing. Just another Friday, with school to look forward to.

The sun was grazing the horizon with stunning colors of red, orange, and pink and the birds were just beginning their repertoire. The cool morning air was gradually clearing the sleepiness from her head when something caught her eye. She had seen movement just to her right, in the driveway by the woods that surrounded the house. She stopped and turned to look; surprised that someone else could be up this early. Her wide eyes couldn’t believe what they were seeing, and she stood there stunned.

There he was, staring at Sadie with dark piercing eyes that were half hidden under his long brown curly bangs. He lacked a shirt and wore faded, threadbare jeans that hung on his boney hips. His thin, pale body stood out against the dark green flora of the woods. He wore a leather strap necklace with a strange metal emblem that Sadie couldn’t quite make out. His hair reached to his shoulders and was matted so badly that it looked like it hadn’t been brushed in weeks. His thumbs hung in his front pockets, and his shoulders hunched forward as he continued to stare at Sadie with a look of confusion.

Sadie suddenly realized that she had been frozen there for several seconds. She cocked her head slightly, thinking how weird this was.

She cleared her throat and tried to look calm and concerned. And who are you? Her high tone hurt her own ears.

He mumbled his name, but she couldn’t quite make it out. He started to pull at his jeans as if they were uncomfortable and looked around while asking, Are you Naomi’s parents?

No! Sadie quickly answered. And where did you come from?

He was far enough away that she felt she could covertly scan the drive for a vehicle. The driveway and road were empty.

He coughed and answered in a louder tone. Well, we were just riding around and picking up reeds. He scratched his shaggy head and moaned. Aw, man! … I just don’t know … um … maybe they ditched me!

How’d you get here anyway?

Since they lived on a dead end road way out in the country, Sadie and her dad rarely saw visitors driving up.

Eli was driving the cart, you … ah …

He lowered his voice to a murmur and eyed the yard and woods. Sadie took one step backward and stood still. When he looked at her again, his dark brown eyes seemed to see right through her. Her next thought was This guy has to be on drugs or something!

Where the heck am I? His voice was sharp.

Where do you think you are?

Ah … I guess I’m waiting for the gang to come and get me.

She bit her lower lip and looked at the woods. Could there be others wandering around here? She could tell he was getting nervous as he wiped his forehead with his hand and kept looking around to get his bearings. He glanced down and moved his foot around as if trying on a new shoe for the first time.

She cleared her throat. Okay, that’s all I need to know right now … uh, thanks.

She shifted her book bag and belongings to one arm and raised her free hand as if to wave goodbye and then spun around to start back to the house. She tried to remain calm as she rolled her eyes and wondered, Why did I say that? I’m such a klutz!

Everything within her wanted to bolt to the front door, but she knew his eyes were following her to the porch. Walk slow … walk slow … don’t scare him! she whispered to herself.

Her heart began to pound as she walked up to the porch with its peeling gray paint. The floorboards creaked as she walked to the door. After flinging the screen door open so hard that it banged against the old farm house, Sadie dumped her stuff on the coffee table in the living room. The adrenaline started to kick in as she stomped up the stairs, shouting, Dad, are you up?

Without any hesitation Sadie’s father, Dale, swung open the bathroom door, a towel wrapped around his waist, and stared at her with wide eyes. What’s wrong?

She felt too excited to find the right words. She stammered, There’s a guy in our driveway who’s on drugs … I mean … he’s not making any sense. Maybe he’s mentally ill or something.

Dale knew it was serious when Sadie got this excited. Okay! He began hopping around the bedroom as he tried to pull on his pants.

Sadie held onto the banister and waited for her dad to follow. Growing impatient, she ran back down to the kitchen. When she reached the phone on the wall she yelled up to her dad, I’ll call 911!

Wait … Uh … Okay, go ahead!

Dale was having trouble getting his bearings with everything happening so fast. He soon came running down the stairs, tucking in his T-shirt, and flung open the screen door as if ready to pounce on the intruder.

Sadie quickly punched the numbers in wondering what she would say while putting the receiver to her ear.

What’s the emergency?

Sadie thought, How can I tell this lady that there’s just a strange man standing in my driveway? She’ll think I’m nuts!

There’s a guy in our driveway looking like he’s on drugs or he’s mentally ill … or something? The phone slipped out of her hand, and she caught it in midair and put it up to her ear again. Following her dad out the front door with the phone held closely to her ear, she noticed him walking quietly around the front yard in search of this stranger. He spun around and looked at Sadie while motioning to her with his hands. Where is he? he whispered.

Sadie pointed wildly around the corner of the house while still holding the receiver to her head. Dale jogged around the side and found him pacing back and forth, looking every direction and pulling at his jeans as if they were a size too large.

The emergency officer was asking the same questions over and over, sending Sadie’s frustration off the scale. She peeked around the corner and watched as her dad cautiously walked up to the man, bearing in mind that to scare him suddenly could cause him to react.

Sadie turned back and continued to answer questions. After giving directions and being reassured that a sheriff was being dispatched, she went back inside and slammed the receiver on the hook. She held her breath and tiptoed back onto the porch stretching her head around the side of the house to get a peek. Surprisingly she saw her dad sitting in the yard alongside the strange man who had sat down Indian style. They were talking and laughing like they already knew each other. The guy seemed to be very attentive to what her dad was saying to him as he smiled and nodded his head periodically. But then he would suddenly get a wild look and watch the woods, once again expecting someone familiar to pop out.

Sadie got the courage to slowly venture down the small hill at the side of the house that led back to where they sat. The trees that lined the edge of the woods and encircled them gave plenty of shade to the yard and house. The driveway led all the way back to a sand and rock pile and the barn. As Sadie got a closer look at the visitor, she realized that he was probably the same age as she was.

Dale was apparently not getting any information from the man as to where he came from.