A New Story Begins

It's a warm summer's night, the breeze is blowing and all you can hear is the wind in the trees and the tips of your bandannas tie backs flapping. There's a faint hint of rain in the air but the moon is full and you’re just in the mood to get out and see what you can get into in the valley of the shadows. You have looked into this valley from atop of this mountain many times growing up and a lot of those times have come after a rigorous day and evening of training and meditation and tonight’s was no different other than the feeling you have got in the pit of your stomach is stronger than ever.

The valley has always been somewhat of a legend ready to be written and the more that time has went by the more you are feeling that you are the one that will be talked about and have stories told about for generations to come but for now you’re waiting to get that moment and have the blessing of your father to go out to this quest. Kody doesn't know just how close that time is and all that he has lived for and trained for is about to come into light and he will need it all to survive because tonight Kody is going in the valley and isn't coming out until he finds some answers, answers on what makes this valley so strange, mysterious and yet so alluring, and what it is that continues to call him in there.

With the clouds moving more quickly now across the face of the moon Kody drops off the top branch of his favorite tree on to the bottom branches and continues his decent out of the tree. Kody has many times gone to this tree to pray and to meditate and tonight was no different. The breeze was blowing against his face and the moon shined brightly upon the tops of the trees of the valley of shadows. The rustle of wind seemed as if it brought the night sounds to life out of the valley and tonight it seemed to even call his name as if it were saying " You have been chosen for a destiny all your own Kody, and you are no longer in the care of your father come claim your destiny." Kody drops quietly from the last branch and begins his journey back to his father’s house.

With the fox tail grass swishing through the wind Kody steps up his pace as he knows it's getting close to the time for supper. Tonight is Kody's night for the prayer of the food. Kody has become very close to God and to his spiritualism. Within a few minutes Kody enters into the backside of his house. There was a small sprinkle of rain beginning to mist down on Kodys head as he begins to walk the last little bit of the walk way before entering the porch of his house.

Have you been to your praying place son, asked Kody's father. Yes Sensei, replied Kody. I was in need of some prayer and meditation after todays exorcizes. Your brothers and sister are all ready in the house setting for supper. I'll just be a moment to wash up dad and I'll start the prayer. OK son but I want to talk to you just for a second before we get inside around the others. Alright dad what’s wrong? Nothing is wrong son but I have to tell you I about something that happened to me earlier in the evening while you were at your prayer site.

Sam reached out and motioned for his son to sit with him on the bench that was along the left wall of the porch. Son I know that you have been bothered by some things that has happened in the past and that you have been praying about something as well about what kind of things that are going on in the Valley of Shadows. How do you know about what I have been praying about dad? Well son, to be honest I too have been praying about these things to God and he has shown me a vision and has instructed me to gather you and your brothers together tonight so that we can discuss a short plan of how you are to enter the valley and what you are allowed to take in there with you. I can't tell you any more than that until we have prayer and supper.

Kody’s hair on the back of his neck was standing from the start of where his dad began to tell him about the praying and the vision. But with surprise his dad now begins to tell him something else. Son when I was your age and even younger God had worked with me and sent me into places so that I could be a witness, a prophet and a warrior for him. It is now your time and it is a time that I am to begin to turn over leadership of our team, our family here to you. Why dad you’re not going anywhere are you? No son I have no plans to go anywhere but there are something’s that you are now going to begin to learn as a man. This mission God is sending you and your brothers on is just the beginning and you are to take care of our family with no excuses, do you understand son? Yes dad, I understand. Good then let’s go get something to eat. Your sister has gathered together a great meal for us and I know we are all hungry. Thanks dad! Sam patted his son on his shoulder and off Kody went to wash up for supper.

A warm gust of wind rustled through Sam’s bandanna and the tips of it flapped in the wind. Sam Stopped and looked back toward the sky knowing that he had pleased the Lord in his decisions tonight and at the same time Sam thanked the Lord for his blessings on his family and himself. Anna was the oldest of the children and had a great meal gathered and prepared for the family. They had all washed up for supper and set down to say the blessings over the food and the hands that had prepared it. Sam began the prayer by thanking the Heavenly Father for the blessings over his family and for the gifts of wondrous food he had led Anna to gather. And then as he always done then passed the prayer to Anna and each one of the children passed the prayer of thanksgiving on to the next as was the tradition and honor of the family. Kody, Josh and then to the youngest Jordan who ended the prayer to God for the thanks of having a wonderful family.

Supper was getting finished and Sam began to speak about the night’s mission. Anna, he began would you gather the packs of food that I asked you to prepare for the boys? Yes sir, she quickly replied. Kody, Josh and Jordan, tonight is the night that I have and the Lord has ordained that you are to enter into The Valley of Shadows. Josh and Jordan looked back and forth to one another in surprise and then looked over to Kody. Kody looked back at them and then quickly smiled and then looked back at his father who continued about what they would need and what they were going in the Valley for. Just as Sam began in the second part of the conversation Anna came back in and sat down in front of Sam the packs he had asked for. Thank you Anna, Sam said as he smiled and nodded to Anna to have a seat back at her place at the table.

Anna picked back up her chop sticks and began to shovel in chicken and rice as she watched and listened to her father speak to the boys.  Through the beginning small talk on into the mission. OK men, here is what you are going into the valley for; there is something evil at work in the valley. God has the knowledge of what it is and is wanting us to know and apart of your training is to first find out what it is that’s going on there and who is arranging all of it so close to Holy ground and what it is that they are planning to do with what they are working on. You are to do this without getting seen, is that understood? YES Sensei! Replied each of the boys simultaneously .