“That stairway goes to nowhere”, I thought. I looked at it curiously. This twenty plus step ornate wooden staircase that led to nothing but air, sat near a corner in the countryside. There was no barn. There was no house. There was nothing to give a clue as to what the stairway used to lead.
I pulled my car to the gravel drive that was close to the staircase and sat there and looked at it some more. It was beautiful. The staircase was wide. I could almost see someone descending the staircase in a beautiful long gown with a flowing train.
A chuckle escaped my lips from the foolishness of the thought. Yet I had a very strong desire to go to the staircase. Maybe even to possibly climb the staircase. I sat and pondered the foolishness of this thought. I would look very stupid to anyone driving by. My feet were clad in flip flops and yet the weeds that I would have to walk through to get to there. Who knew what was hiding in the tall weeds.
Still it drew me. Throwing caution to the wind, I stepped out of the car and made my way carefully through the weeds. Using the key fob, I locked the car and pocketed my keys in my back pocket.
As I get closer to the staircase, it seems to be even larger, even taller than what it had appeared to be from the road. I look up from the bottom and the staircase seems to have many more steps that I first thought. The wood is a very rich mahogany. The newel post has a scrolling pattern.
I look back to the road, but it now seems so far away. There is no evidence of any traffic, so I begin climbing. The steps are so solid, that I am amazed. After sitting in the elements for who knows how long, I would have suspected that there would be weaknesses. Throwing caution to the wind, I continued up the steps using the center of the steps. Higher and higher, I climb. Looking back to the road, it seems so small. I look around the countryside and see the beauty of the land as it gently flows as far as the eye can see.
Looking down to the ground, I realize that I can barely see the first step. I quickly calculate that I must have climbed at least thirty or more steps by now. “This is ridiculous”, I think. I could not have possible climbed that high and yet as I look up, the stairs continue to go on.
I begin to run up the stairs all the while looking up and seeing that I am getting no closer to the top. I’m surprised to find that I am not winded from the run.
Finally, I stop. I’m trying to decide if I want to keep running when I feel a warm breeze upon my face. The sun suddenly seems brighter. Looking down, I don’t see the ground any longer. Instead of being afraid, I somehow feel peace. But why?
I lean back against the railing and think about my options. I could go back down or I could continue. But yet, I have climbed so high and have still not found the top.
“You have found what you were looking for,” I hear.
“Who is that?” I asked softly. Cautiously, I look around for the owner of the voice.
“You know who I am,” the voice said.
As I look up, I see bare feet coming down the steps. Above them is a white flowing robe. “Oh man,” I think.
“I’m dead, aren’t I?” I asked.
“No, you are not dead,” the owner of the voice laughed. “You have a long life ahead of you yet. I just put out the welcome mat because I wanted to have a little chat with you.”
“A chat?” I asked stupidly. “What have I done wrong?”
As I watch, the man coming toward me has long flowing hair. His hair is beautiful, full of waves. Waves that I had always wanted in my own hair. He smiled and held his hand out to me.
“Come,” he says as I put my hand in his. “Come sit beside me,” he said as he sat on one of the steps. I sit below him a step.
“I can see that you are afraid. Please do not be afraid. There is nothing you should fear.”
“But why am I here if I am not dead or dying?”
“I want your help,” he said.
“My help?” I asked incredulously. “But you are the all-powerful, how can I possibly help you?”
“One of my children has lost their way. I need your help in rescuing them.”
“Are they hurt?”
“No,” he said sadly. “They are not hurt yet. But they will be if they continue on the path that they have chosen.”
“Who do I need to help?”
I know that I gasped as he told me the name. “But I know that person. Are you sure?”
He nodded. “I need your help to get them back on the right path. You can do this.”
“But can I do it alone?”
He smiled, he placed his hand on my shoulder. “You have the strength of many. Besides, my child, I am always with you. If you need my help, you just need to ask and I will be there.”
“Will I come back here?”
“No, you will not. These steps will be gone by the time you get back to your car.”
“But how will I find you?”
“Look deep into your heart. Listen carefully. That is I talking with you.”
I nodded solemnly and stood. “I will help you as you have always helped me.”
“I knew that you would,” he smiled. “Let me help you to your car.”
“I can make it,” I began. I looked around in surprise as I found myself back in the driver’s seat of my car. Shaking my head at my foolishness, I moved to the put the car in gear and realized it was not even running. Reaching around, I pulled the keys from my back pocket.
“It must have happened,” I whispered.
“It did,” a voice said. “I am always with you.”
I looked in the rearview mirror to see if the voice came from the back seat and was shocked at what I saw. I looked closer and still was not convinced. Finally, I pulled the visor down and looked into the vanity mirror there. My hair was now white. A pearly white, but it was white. There was not a trace of my former red locks. The other surprise was the waves, the beautiful waves of my dreams.
“You did seem to admire them,” the voice said. “Now go, I don’t want you to be too late.”
Starting the car, I carefully backed out onto the county road. I headed back in the direction I had come. I needed to get to the interstate. I needed to get down to the capital. My help is needed there.