The Next Cycle: The Foundational Years

By William F. Wilkinson

What will the world be like when our civilization follows the path of the ancient ones we learned about in history class? How will humanity move forward in the next cycle of life? Frank Cromwell’s life’s work was to bring unity to the world’s religions. As the world rebuilds following a period of devastation, his talents are called into service in both religious and secular aspects of society.

Aided by a being of undefined nature and the love and support of his family, Frank is challenged by human nature—both his own and that of others—a nature that seems determined to keep the human species divided. Join Frank, his family, and society as a whole as they journey into the foundational years of The Next Cycle.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781638148906

Book preview

The Time of Change

It’s hard to say exactly when the time of change began. Some believe the seeds of change were sown when the new country first declared its independence. Others think perhaps it was during the years that followed the nation’s first civil war. Still, others believe perhaps it began more recently, perhaps beginning with the virus and the political fallout that followed. There is one thing everyone agrees: the time of change was devastating for the entire planet, and it began in earnest when the United States fell apart.

As difficult as it is to determine when the time of change began, there is even less consensus as to who may be to blame. As the nation descended into chaos, the liberal party blamed the conservative party; the conservative party blamed the liberal party. If the truth was known, it would most likely reveal the true blame falls on the American people themselves for allowing the parties to divide them in the first place. After all, a divided population does not support a united nation.

The same can be said of the planet as a whole. Since the dawn of time, humans have found various ways to divide themselves into groups. When the population of the species was low, geography kept people separated. As the population grew and began to explore beyond borders; forces such as race, religion, or political ideology were called into service as a manner of keeping people divided. Even as intercontinental travel and communication became commonplace, people insisted on remaining divided.

Regardless of who was responsible or when the time began, the fact remains that it happened. It is important to record historical events soon after they happen while the timelines are still fresh in one’s mind. Analysis of history is best left to future generations, but its record is best compiled shortly after the events themselves so that it is not lost to time. Those who are unaware of history are doomed to repeat it, so it is important that we look at the events of recent history.

As it is well accepted that the time of change was initiated in the United States, perhaps a look at our own nation is a good place to begin. The great American divide began shortly after the founding of the nation when, against the warnings of her first president, the population divided itself into political parties. Soon after, the divide found the nation ripped apart in civil war. Though the Union was saved from complete dissolution, the divide that had led to war was never fully repaired. As the nation grew throughout the twentieth century, the divide grew with it. What began as competing political ideologies soon grew to include racial tensions, and as those were brought to rest, religious differences took center stage. And most recently, economic classes became the primary source of division.

In each division, the ruling political parties took a side. The conservative party worked tirelessly to gain control through creating fear of the liberal party, and of course, the liberal party did the same. As with most conflicts, trouble began with a war of words, but when words did not seem to bring about the desired change, they became actions.

What began as protests soon turned to riots, and property damage was soon replaced by interpersonal violence. Isolated incidents of shootings or stabbings soon became common occurrences, until there was no population center left untouched. Media sources had long ago chosen sides between the parties, and news reports only added to the divide and helped to fuel the violence.

One would almost find it ironic that the root cause of the second civil war for the nation was the socioeconomic divide between the wealthy ruling class and the poorer working class. Why? you ask. Because the violence had very little impact on the wealthy—it was the poor and the middle classes battling in the streets while the wealthy enjoyed the comforts and safety of their mansions. Similar scenarios played out in several European and South American nations; only countries with strict authoritarian governments were spared the violence of the economic uprisings.

Of course, as was well known during this time, the divisions of the world were not just internal with America and her allies, but Western and Eastern civilizations were also ideologically divided. As the nations of the West fell into chaos, the Eastern powers found their opportunity to expand influence on the world. International conflict began in what was once known as the cradle of civilization, the Middle East. In the absence of Western influence, the Soviet and Persian empires were rebuilt, and the two powers pushed Western influence from the Arabian Peninsula, the Holy Land, and North Africa.

The free states fought valiantly, but with Western military might stretched to the brink fighting civil wars, they fell quickly. Not to be outdone by their neighbors to the north and west, China began expanding her borders as well. In a few short years, the Chinese, Persian, and Soviet empires had joined together and were massive in size and might—and poised to spread their ideology throughout Europe and Africa. Allies in the Americas provided a staging ground for the forces of the East to gain global superiority.

It can be considered with little doubt that this external threat is what brought civil unrest to an end in the Western nations. Though little had been accomplished in the realm of socioeconomic equality, freedom-loving people would not allow themselves to be subjugated by foreign powers, and unity was needed to meet the impending threat. The war that followed was the deadliest the planet had ever seen, with more than three billion lives lost as a direct result of fighting. Crematoriums around the world ran constantly to try to keep up with disposing of the corpses; though, quite often, remains were left to decompose where they fell. If any good can be said of the fighting, it is that neither side was willing to be the first to launch a nuclear attack. Though this indeed dragged out the fighting, it spared the earth itself from irreparable damage.

The war was neither won nor lost by either side; it simply continued until the people were tired of fighting. War of such magnitude does not come without its costs. People were crushed spiritually as much as physically; there was a global disdain for daily life, and many people did not even care to put forth an effort great enough to keep themselves alive.

Not to be outdone by her primary species, the earth herself seemed to rise to the challenge of helping to eradicate as much of humanity as possible. Hundreds of years’ worth of abuse and neglect by industrialized civilization had taken its toll on the natural defenses of the planet. Ocean storms ravaged not only coastal regions but hundreds of miles inland from their point of impact. The heating of the earth’s core triggered massive volcanic eruptions in all regions of the earth, resulting in the loss of an entire year’s worth of crops. Poverty was rampant, the will to live nonexistent, and the loss of life matched the war.

The change of cycles lasted longer this time around, and in the end, the planet’s human population was decreased by 90 percent. As always happens after disaster, people finally realized the only way forward was in unity. The cost was more than six billion lives; the reward for the survivors would have to prove that lessons had been learned. No longer could the species survive with the divides of the past.

In the new cycle, humans would have to work together if the species were to survive.

The Beach

The beach was empty—all but the man and woman walking hand in hand in the early morning light. It was just a couple hours after sunrise, and the sun was already warming the tropical air. A light breeze blew in off the ocean, keeping sweat at bay. The couple stopped, turned to the ocean, and let the smells and sounds of their tropical paradise wash over them as the tide washed rhythmically over the sand. The gulls sang their morning song.

Can you believe we made it? he asked his wife.

This was the scene she had dreamed about the whole thirty years they had been married.

I knew we would eventually, came the soft reply.

He remembered when they first met. It was a whirlwind romance. They met in November and spent two months crashing with friends or family until they found that first apartment. They were inseparable—she even left her job to join him at his. They worked as much as eighty hours a week, but as long as they were together, they could pull through the exhaustion.

He managed the base lodge cafeteria at a small ski resort in Vermont, and it was ski season. They married in February at that resort. In March, they learned they were to be parents. He chuckled at that memory.

Remember when we found out you were pregnant?

Oh my god, yes! she laughed in response. We were walking through the store shopping, and you threw a pregnancy test in the cart. When I asked what it was for, you told me, ‘Well, either you’re pregnant or crazy. We need to know which.’

In my defense, you had been incredibly emotional.

She hugged close to him. Their oldest would be thirty in the fall; their youngest would turn twenty-eight the following February. Life hadn’t always been easy; as many do, they struggled as a young family. They bought their first house the summer after they were married; they lost it in the great recession seven years later. In time, they bought another house. It had almost always been a struggle as the kids were growing up. Money got tight many times, but their little family had love and faith. They always pulled through.

We did good though, he said with pride. The girls grew to be amazing women.

They’ll be here next week, she reminded him. We need to get the guest rooms ready.

We have nothing but time was his casual reply.

Things improved drastically after his book was published. They had managed to help their girls into adult life, set up a charitable foundation, and retire comfortably. His biannual speaking engagements funded the foundation. Otherwise, they just relaxed and enjoyed their life in paradise.

His publisher had been calling for a second book, but he didn’t see a need. He had presented the world with a theological view that brought unity, and that had been his goal. He certainly had no need to increase his bank accounts. The world had no need for another book; it just needed to keep working toward the goals in the one he already wrote. It would take time, but he felt the world had all it needed to continue in peace and prosperity.

Well, I suppose we should get some breakfast.

The two turned to head back to their cottage. He had always thought he would buy a mansion on the beach if he ever came into money, but his book promoted a simpler way of life. And as he put his words to paper, he felt obliged to follow them himself.

The cottage faced the ocean, with steps from the porch leading directly to the sandy beach path that cut through the dunes. The door to the one-and-a-half-story, cape-style cottage had never been locked; most of the time only the screen door was closed, just enough to keep the bugs out. Dormers graced the roofline offering windows to let the sea breeze into the girls’ rooms upstairs. Tropical trees and plants filled the background behind the cottage; from the beach view, it looked completely cut off from society.

Walking in the front door off the beach, the two entered the open great room area. First was a living room space adorned with a couple of sofas and a TV that was hardly ever turned on; a spiral staircase rose to the right, giving access to the upstairs loft and bedrooms. Just past this space was a long dining table under the bridge that connected the loft to the bedroom over the living room area, and beyond that, under the overhang of the open loft was the kitchen. To the left, a short hallway led to their bedroom and a bathroom. It was a simple home, but inside it was all they needed.

What do you want? he asked as he headed toward the kitchen.

Whatever you make. I’m going to grab a quick shower was his lover’s reply.

He shook his head and smiled as he thought out loud to himself, That woman never knows what she wants.

Namaste, my friend! the doctor’s voice came from the door.

Their dog raised his lazy head, announced the visitor with a small bark, and then just laid his snout back down on his crossed paws.

It’s open, he called back from the kitchen. Clearly you don’t need to worry about the dog.

The friends greeted each other with a laugh and a hug.

I’m making eggs and toast, want anything?

The doctor grabbed a banana from the bowl on the counter.

Just a cup of coffee, if you have it.

You know where it is.

The doctor came by every morning to check in with his friends.

How are you guys doing today?

So far so good. We woke up again, so I’m guessing we didn’t die in our sleep or anything. He split the eggs between two plates and buttered the toast. Hun! Your breakfast is ready!

Be right there! she called from the bathroom. Is the doctor here yet?

Yep, we’ll be on the porch!

Did he get his coffee? she asked as she exited the hall, toweling off her. Oh, good morning, Doc.

Good morning.

They exchanged a quick smile as the doctor took a cautious sip from his mug.

The doctor had been visiting every morning since they moved to the beach. As far as she was concerned, he was as much a part of the family as the dog. With a quick peck on the cheek, she took her husband’s plate.

Hey, that was mine, he joked.

It’s mine now.

Grabbing the other plate from the counter, he headed outside with the doctor. Neither he nor his wife remembered when they met the doctor; he kind of came with the house. Every morning was the same routine. They would return from their walk on the beach, and right around breakfast time, the doctor would come by to check in on them, always concerned with how they might be feeling that day. Every morning without fail.

She ate her breakfast at the table and listened to the voices coming from the porch. Every day recently, the same question Are you ready to talk about the next cycle yet? would come through with the doctor’s smooth but elderly