Faith

The Village

I was lost.

I didn't know how I had got here but I continued on the path and thought I saw smoke.

A little later houses came into view. It looked like a small village in this forest, forest and there were signs of habitation, so I hoped I could get some indication of where I was and how to get back to the main roads and eventually home.

The trees were very tall and I wondered why there was a village here. This was the only way in and it didn't look like there was another way out as the far end of the village was a large pond.

The Arrival and The Dialogue

I was sure I would get directions back to where I needed to to be when I saw the the first two villagers.

"Can you give me directions to the main road please, I got lost in this forest. I found this path but it just started in a clearing and brought me to you"

They looked at me strangely, then looked at each other.

Me: "I need directions"

Them: "There is nowhere else. This is the only place there is"

Me: "No, there is a main road that I left and got lost in this forest, and then I found you"

Them: "This is Ys, There is nowhere to go from here. We live here and live by The Faith"

Me: "The Faith?"

Them: "The Faith guides us"

Me: "What Is It? Is it written down, in a book?"

Them: "Book, what is Book? Written, what is written?"

Me: "Is it stated and recorded in some form?"

Them: "It is within us"

Me: "But do you not know of nearby villages, towns and cities, and the world"

Them: "There is nowhere else, The Faith tells us so, and we are happy. We believe. The Faith provides for all our needs"

Me: "But this is not all there is, there is a world beyond this forest"

Them: "There is nothing but Ys, The Faith knows this and tells us it is so"

Me: "There is more, I come from another place. You know I am not one of you"

Them: "You are other. Not one of us,. The Faith is not in you. You must leave"

I knew that I would get nothing from them. They had their faith and I had my knowledge, but I could not prove to them that the world outside Ys existed.

As I walked away to try and find my way home I was saddened by their ignorance and refusal to at least listen to my words, and I know they felt exactly the same about me.