David's Trial

The air was filled with the buzz of excitement. It was a new day of departure for another group of spirit children. Today was the day they would descend to the world called Earth and begin their tests to determine their faithfulness in keeping to their Father's commandments. Some were nervous, unsure of what to expect, despite the years of training they had received for this very special day in their lives. Others were excited, eager to begin their tribulations in the temporal world and fulfill their promises to their Father. One spirit child in particular, a man named David, was scared.

The day had come for him to receive his call to Earth, and when he had received it, he was confused from its written words. It stated that he was to be born on the Earth in a special time, and will be given the ability of leadership, where his family, friends and his community would receive the opportunity to serve their fellow brothers and sisters through his guidance. After that passage, it stated  that he was to be born with muscular dystrophy.

David had no idea what that meant. He wanted to ask someone around about it, but he wasn't sure if they could give him an straight answer. No one around he knew had an idea about Earth and its functions and various assignments. He avoided entering into any of the energetic conversations his brothers and sisters were having about their callings, not knowing what to say or think should any of them approach him with the question of what the terms of his calling meant. With hesitation, he decided to step away from the excited crowd of spirit children sharing the terms of their callings on Earth with each other.

He took a detour down a hallway to a room he was most familiar with. As he walked, he could already feel the comfort and the love that he enjoyed, that he wanted to try to remember as much as possible once he departed his homelands to serve in his call of the temporal state of mortality. Further down this hallway was a most convenient office: a place he could go to receive counsel from his Father. If anyone knew anything about the terms of a life on Earth, it would be Him. He was the one who organized its creation, and David knew that his concerns would be addressed and removed with a short conversation.

He knocked on the door, and waited for a response, not wanting to barge in just in case his Father was speaking to one of his brothers or sisters. After a moment's wait, making David eager to speak, he heard the comforting voice of his Father through the alabaster door.

"Come in." He said, a voice stentorian with joy.

David opened the door and immediately smiled as he saw his Father sitting at the desk with a stack of callings in His hand, brow furrowed in concentration as He determined the places that would be best for all His children.

"David! How great it is to see you! How is everything?" He said with a big smile, placing the papers down and placing a palm flat on His desk, gesturing for David to come in with His raised one.

"Great! I just got my calling for my test."

"That is the most wonderful news! And where are you going, my son?"

"A place called Earth..."

"Earth. Earth is a very special place. It's where your eldest brother was called to serve." David's Father replied with a beaming smile. Both He and David, as well as the entire host of heaven was most familiar with whom He spoke of. The entire Kingdom of Heaven was very proud and always referred to Him when it came to examples of doing the best in all things.

After a moment's pause, David spoke again, voice shaky and laced with timidness. "I am a little curious though, my Lord. What does it mean that I will be born with muscular dystrophy?"

The Father paused for a moment, looking away in thought, then returning His loving gaze back at David. It made David feel a small sense of guilt for asking, hoping He didn't seem skeptic about his Father's plans for him.

"I'm sorry Father, I didn't mean to sound doubtful...I was unfamiliar..." David immediately said, blushing from asking the question that might have made him seem dubious.

"Do not worry about questions, my son. Simple, innocent questions like these allow for moments of growth and strength. Is that not the reason you accepted the test to go to Earth? I am happy when you ask me in yearning. Like the prophets of old, who asked questions of me when they had not the knowledge to complete the task I had asked them to do, you are allowed to ask me questions that help you obtain knowledge."

He smiled, filling David's heart with a profound comfort and warmth.

"My son, muscular dystrophy is a disability, as your brothers and sisters have decided to call  it on Earth, that may take away your ability to walk.  It will give you a hard time to see, hear or speak to others at occasions. People may laugh at you. People may ignore you." The Father spoke, tone full of peace, filled with nothing but the truth.

When David heard all about what the word meant, he couldn't help but feel dejected. He cast his glance down, now worried and confused. He tried to think back to any time he had gotten into some form of trouble. He knew he served well whenever the Lord and the leaders he chose called for his services. He fought valiantly during the terrible civil war that shook the heavens and emptied its eternal host of several of his brothers and sisters. Whatever this muscular dystrophy was, it clearly was a form of restriction. David blinked back hot tears, trying his hardest to hide them away from his Father. It was to no avail, for David already knew that his Father could tell he was dismayed.

"Never had I intended any of these conditions to be a form of disability." David's Father continued. "I wanted them to be a reminder to all who witness the blessings that come with service. By showing love towards those that might not have the same abilities as someone born without a condition, your brothers and sisters would learn that service to the Heavenly Family, is service to me, and spreads the love I wish to share to all."

David looked back up and blinked. Never did he think of this condition to be a reminder to others. This revelation caught his attention, and he continued to look at his Father, eyes wide with a desire to hear more. Despite his passionate will to think the way his Lord was thinking, a bitter question bit at the back of his mind. It made him turn his head to glance at the flawless marble floors beneath him. He then returned his Father's gaze.

"But my Lord, is this what everyone speaks of as a trial? Am I to struggle with this to strengthen myself to come back to you?" David asked.

"No my son. David, I do not give these conditions to just anyone, I give it to very select souls. David, you belong to these noble souls, among the strongest souls in our family. Your dedication to my plan of salvation, to my goal to have you all return to my arms and my Kingdom, has served as a great example to your brothers and sisters past, present and future. You do not have to prove to me your trust through physical struggle, for you've proven your faithfulness  already. You've shown me your trust in my plan, taking the sword against the rebellion of your elder brother..."

He paused after mentioning the rebellion, small tears beginning to well up at the corners of his eyes. It was then that David took a closer look at his Father's eyes, noticing the soreness, the tiredness. His face was furrowed and lined with the remnants of tears. His Lord wiped away the tears and continued, face still wrinkled with the warm smile that encompassed David's entirety with a feeling of joy.

"This is your calling, David. The trial will be given to everyone you meet. Your peers, your community, your earthly family, and your associates. How they treat you, and how they assist you, how they smile at you or greet you, how they share their experiences; all this will serve as their trials. If they treat you as your eldest brother instructed them to with his example, they will fill their souls with light, and feel closer to me. You will remind them the blessings and of the appreciation of service to others. What was said at the first portion of your calling?"

David reached into his pocket and drew out the folded slip of paper. He read aloud:

"I am to be born in a time where my family, friends and my community would receive the opportunity to serve their fellow brothers and sisters through my guidance..."

"You will remind them, David. Remind them about service, remind them about love. You will lead them, as you lead your family in this life, to stand for the promises and the wonderful feeling of loving one another as I have loved you. And yes, it may be difficult, not having the ability to walk. It will be more than hard. But you are of the few I know that can accept that and be able to use it as a strength. Every person you meet will be affected by you, and you will help them as they assist you to do the things that they may sometimes take for granted."

David couldn't help but begin to cry with joy as he smiled gratefully, honored to have such a profound purpose in the lives of others. His Father stood up from the table and stretched out his hand, giving David a firm, friendly handshake of departure. Giving him a hug and a thanks for his help, David headed out the door, fully aware of what he needed to do know. He ran down the white hallway, eager to reach the crowd of spirit children and tell his brothers and sisters what his calling was...