PRISONER EXPRESS

Steam rose out of the black stallion's nostrils at the scent of blood from the battle ground all around him, as the sun peeked over the horizon. Luscious, stood with his feet apart observing the results of the early morning battle. Nikolee stood at his flanks, guarding Luscious' back. Both men, armed warriors tested and successful, none of the enemy was left standing. Luscious ordered his men to finish up the work; his deep voice reverberated as he announced, "I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them. Neither did I turn back again 'till they were destroyed. I have wounded them, so that they could not rise; they have fallen under my feet for you have armed me with strength for the battle. You have given me the necks of my enemies so that I destroyed those who hated me. They cried out, but there was none to save them, even the Lord did not answer them. Then I beat them as fine dust before the wind; I cast them out like dirt in the streets. You have made me the head of the nations; and people I have not known shall serve me. As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me, Now I know the Lord saves His Anointed. King Daniel awaits our return."

Once more Lucious looked at his men proudly... He was pleased. Turning to his captain, the great general continued, "Nikolee, may the Lord answer you in the day of trouble. May he send you help from the sanctuary; may he grant you according to your heart's desires and fulfill all your purposes. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight for one day, you my son, will be greater than I.

But remember these things- with the merciful, you will show yourself merciful. With a blameless man, you will show yourself blameless. With the pure, you will show yourself pure. With the devious, you will show yourself shrewd for you will save the humble people."

Nikolee did not understand all those words, but he accepted his stepfather's blessings. The battle was over and all the warriors mounted their horses and slowly, in two columns, galloped south to the river city where King Daniel, impatiently, waited for some news of the riders approaching from the North...

I sat reading that book ¬Winners and Losers¬ and realized we are all winners and losers in this life we live. It's only a matter of time before a winner will lose and vice versa. The old rags to riches-riches to rags cycle will continue. In time, nobody will remain a loser forever, and some day the rich man will lose his most valuable possession. We must learn to use wiserly what has been given to us and learn to adapt to losing and winning situations, arming ourselves with the knowledge that winners and losers die in time. In a sense, we are all losers and all winners... temporarily.