The sun was still fairly high in the western sky when Maturity brought them to a halt before a country inn. Although it was well removed from any real settlement, the inn was large and appeared prosperous.
"According to my map," said Seth, "There is a town not many miles from here. It seems like we could make it there well before nightfall."
"We could," replied Maturity, "But this inn has special significance. It is Learning Inn, and it is what The King calls a ‘learning stop’ where one gets special instruction in citizenship in this new country. We'll have time to eat and rest, then we can partake of the instruction."
So they stopped, and again the accommodations were good, and the dinner was excellent and more than adequate. The inn appeared to be filled with both new and old citizens of the land, and Seth enjoyed talking to everyone. Some had been in the Kingdom many years, and they shared fascinating stories of adventures and experiences. Seth was apparently the most recent arrival, but others had been across the chasm only a few more days or weeks than he had been. All seemed equally a part of the fellowship, and it struck Seth that there were no closed groups in which he did not feel welcome. He remembered that, across the chasm, it was easy - indeed, almost usual - to feel alone.
About nine o'clock a bell rang, and those familiar with the routine at Learning Inn began to gather up the newcomers. All began to move toward a large auditorium situated near the rear of the inn's spacious gardens. Seth followed along after Maturity, and they found seats near the stage. The curtain was pulled shut. There was a general noisy confusion as other found their seats, and Maturity had to lean close to Seth's ear to be heard.
"I think you'll find this evening entertaining, as it is meant to be. But the purpose is not mere diversion. There are some extremely important lessons to be learned, lessons that will help you make the most of your new life. It's all very new to you, so some may not be clear. Feel free to ask questions."
"I certainly will."
Just then the lights dimmed, and all became quiet as the curtains parted to reveal a very large troupe of actors. Even at first glance it was obvious that they had been selected to give great diversity to the group. There were extremely old people, and there were babies still in their parent's arms. There were men and women, and children of all ages. There were tall people and short, stout ones and thin, and their skin tones included all those known in the world. They were dressed in a great variety of apparel, men were both clean-shaven and full-bearded, and there was every length and style of hair on both men and women. In short, there was represented there almost every imaginable type of person.
In the split second it took Seth to note the great variety, he noted three other things. First, everyone was holding hands. Second, they were standing extremely close together, closer even than the great mass of people on the small stage required. Third, everyone wore a sign on which was written the name of a part of the body - wrist, artery, lung, shoulder blade, and so on. The curtain stayed open only a moment, then closed. The spectators at once began an excited conversing.
"I don't understand," said Seth. "What's this scene supposed to tell me?"
"It's a hard one for new citizens, because it is so contrary to what things are like on the other side of the chasm. Organization on this side of the chasm can truly be compared to a body. Everyone - and I mean everyone – belongs, in the sense that the eye is a part of the body, or a hand is a part of the body. Life here is meant to be as close and as interdependent as a living organism."
"So, the great diversity of people is meant to show that, no matter what we were or how we were treated on the other side of the chasm, here we all have a place?"
"Correct. But more than that, we each have a specific place. But wait, here's the curtain again."
The curtain parted to reveal a smaller group of people. They still wore their signs, and some were standing close together, holding hands. However, several groups and individuals were standing apart from the others.
"Can you guess this one?" asked Maturity.
Seth paused a moment. "Well, I see that some people are gone, and that all are not holding hands. Does it mean that something has gone wrong with this body we're all a part of?"
"No, not gone wrong, but you're getting the idea. Look at those two people who are standing near one another, but are not holding hands." He pointed to the left side of the stage. "Can you see their names?"
"Yes, one is called Elbow. The one next to him in Shoulder."
"And who is holding hands with Elbow?"
"Forearm."
"And with Shoulder?"
"Backbone. Oh, now I see. A specific part of the chain, Upper Arm we might call him, is missing. They can't all join together because an in-between part of the chain is gone."
Maturity smiled, and lay his hand on Seth's shoulder. "And the lesson is that not everyone who The King expects has crossed the chasm, yet. The Kingdom is not yet functioning as it someday will, because there are parts missing from our body. So, as in the human body that is missing limbs or organs, there are things that it is difficult or impossible for us to do, right now. Someday, that will change."
As they talked, the curtain had closed, and was already opening on still another scene. Here a series of actors were standing in a long line, holding hands. Their labels indicated that they represented a leg, stretching from a young boy named Toe to a tall thin man whose tag read Hip Bone. After facing the audience briefly, they started to move off to the left. However, a woman labeled Knee stumbled, and the whole group tumbled over one another. The audience laughed spontaneously.
The group arose, re-ordered themselves, and started to walk to the right. Again Knee tripped and fell, bringing the others sprawling down around her. Laughter again filled the auditorium as the curtain closed.
"I'm catching on to this now," said Seth. "Knee obviously isn't doing her job well - isn't working right - so the others can't work right, either."
"Correct. And you can see that when you are a part of a body, it is vital that you do your job right. Whatever you do affects everyone else."
Seth wanted to ask how one learned to do one's job well, but the curtain was opening again. Once more the actors were lined up in the form of a leg, but this time in place of the woman called Knee, there was a young man whose sign read "Elbow."
The audience caught sight of the misfit immediately, and a subdued buzzing of sound carried through the auditorium in anticipation of what was certainly going to happen. Sure enough, the group took only one step, and ended as a sprawling mass of humanity on the stage. There was no need to repeat that performance, and the curtain closed to the accompaniment of roaring laughter.
As quiet returned to the theater, Seth leaned over toward Maturity. "I see the problem, but I'm not sure I see how it relates to the real body we've been considering."
"That's because you haven't yet seen the effects of having someone filling the wrong niche in the community. Just as an elbow can't function as a knee, so you can't be me nor I you. Sometimes it is worse having the wrong person doing a job that it is leaving the job undone."
The performance was apparently over, for people were beginning to rise and move toward the exits. Seth and Maturity followed along out of the auditorium and into the lovely garden.
"I had meant to ask you earlier," began Seth. "How does one find his proper place within the body? And how does it happen that people get into wrong positions?"
"Finding your rightful place is the result of education, experience, and guidance. As you spend time in the Kingdom studying The King's directives, participating in 'learning stops' like this one, and talking to fellow members of the body, you'll begin to see your rightful place. It sounds difficult - or maybe a little too easy, in some respects - but if you are really interested in finding your rightful place here, I can guarantee that you'll find it."
They came to a bench and sat down on it. Maturity continued. "As to the second part of your question, being in the wrong niche can come about in several ways. One, you may be too impatient to get involved in Kingdom life, and just begin to do something - anything!. On the other side of the chasm, such action is often commended, but here The King would much prefer that you wait and learn.
"As you continue in the Kingdom, it will become more and more apparent to you that members are missing or malfunctioning. You could feel the urge to 'pitch in' and do someone else's job, and here is the second problem situation. Remember that you are a specific part of the body, not just any part. Suppose you are a foot, and you decide to do the job of a hand. What would happen?"
"Well, obviously I couldn't do as well - maybe I couldn't do it, at all. But I'm not sure I see the harm in trying."
"Perhaps the comparison becomes a little simplistic, but consider again what we saw in the auditorium. Even a sincere attempt that turned out wrong caused others to stumble. The King would rather wait for the right part! Also, consider the possible consequences of your taking on a job that rightfully belongs to someone who has crossed the chasm, but has not yet discovered his place. He may wander about, getting in the way of others. Or, if he knows you have taken his job - no matter who good your reasons - he may resent your interference, and there may be dissension in the body. Tension and dissension make it hard for everyone to work, as I'm sure you know."
Maturity fell silent, and Seth thought he had finished his explanation. But he began again. "Another cause of wrong people in wrong places is that we are overzealous with others. We sincerely want everyone to find their niches, and we sincerely want to get all the jobs done. So, sometimes we ill-advisedly direct new or unsure citizens into jobs that appear vacant. As you know, it is hard for a newcomer to resist the direction and advice of older citizens. For instance, what would you do if I, whom I think you respect, suggested that you take on a certain job that somehow didn't seem quite right to you?"
"I see what you mean," replied Seth, slowly. "I'd probably do it. But what should one do in such a situation? I certainly am new at life in the Kingdom, and I certainly don't want to offend anyone."
Maturity got up, and Seth followed him on through the garden toward the inn. "It's a two-part solution," said Maturity. "One, we should listen to the advice of others, but we all must learn and remember that The King communicates with each of us directly, and he is a far better judge of our rightful place than even the most helpful citizen. As I intimated before, his methods seem a little mysterious when explained, but direction does come loud and clear as we learn to seek it and expect it."
He paused. "You said, a two-part solution," prompted Seth.
"Yes. The other half is that we must learn to control our zeal, and not lead our fellow-citizens astray. We must get it firmly implanted in our own hearts and minds that, just as The King directs us, he can direct others, also."
They had reached the door of the inn, and were about to part for their separate rooms. "One last thing," said Maturity. "Tonight's comparison of the Kingdom with a human body is not really completely accurate. In the human body, a foot cannot actually say that it doesn't want to do the work of a foot. Neither can it decide to be an elbow instead of a foot, because there is an ultimate control in the brain and nervous system. In the Kingdom, The King does not exercise that mandatory type of control - even though he could - because he knows that we are people, not puppets. But, if we want to please him and help the Kingdom function in top form, he will give us direction that is even surer than that given the human body by its brain. We just have to seek it."
Seth shook his head. "I'm learning so much, and it's all so revolutionary. My mind is so full, I'll never be able to get to sleep tonight."
Maturity laughed. "On the contrary. On this side of the chasm, lessons aren't problems. You'll sleep like a top!"
Seth did indeed sleep like a top.
***
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