Chapter 3: Maybury Third Team
‘Top bins!’ said Craig.
‘Straight out of the top drawer!’ replied Simon.
‘A hospital ball that was Simon!’ continued Seth.
‘That was six of one, half a dozen of the other!’ John Oakes, the captain of Maybury third team concluded. It was training for a local football team in Maybury, on an all weather pitch on the outskirts of the town. The wind drove in from one side, and wind driven sand from the pitch surface occasionally obscured the vision of outfield players.
John was Father Oakes nephew. He believed strongly in the value of exercise and being outside as a way of dealing with mental health problems. He played for the third team, along with Craig, Simon and Seth. After the game, the four of them would enjoy the provided refreshments around the clubhouse named ‘The Edale Journey’s Rest’. It had three large seating areas, with bars, and one was for local sports teams. John also believed that a vibrant social life gave a young man something to look forward to, to therefore detract from negative thoughts and feelings. He was an agnostic, and believed that a loving God would not condemn anyone. This is what Father Oakes believes, as an ordained member of the clergy, and many consider this to be a paradox. This is a paradox of the life of Jesus Himself.
After one game, in the warm mid-winter refreshment of the busy restaurant, religious matters became the topic of conversation.
‘I think I’m like an agnostic at the minute’, said John to Simon and Seth, just after bringing three pints of shandy from the well-lit bar, ‘ I think just as long as you live a good life, it shouldn’t matter whether you have followed a particular faith system’.
‘But are you against people of faith?’ replied Simon.
‘No, I don’t suppose I am.’
Seth then came in, ‘There’s a very good passage in scripture when Jesus talks to St John. St John wanted to stop those who were working miracles in God’s name. But God told him that he mustn’t, because whoever was not against him was for him! I think this is really important in this country right now. It’s important that all Christians are united, but also with those whom the spirit of the gospel lives within them. Maybe even if they don’t necessarily go around telling everyone, or even believing it themselves. I honestly believe that because of my sins, there have been self-confessed atheists who have been closer to the kingdom of God!’
‘But surely they would need to convert?’ John replied eagerly.
‘Yes you say that, and I understand completely. I don’t know but often I remember the good thief at Calvary. Do you know that story?’ Simon said in a very reflective tone.
‘Not really but why?’ replied John.
‘Well maybe it doesn’t matter how many times we say ‘yes’ to God. The act of the good thief’s repentance was a yes. But I believe that simply being compassionate to another human being is a ‘yes’. Like the single cup of water given to the needy person. Maybe faith emphasizes isolated events, such as daily prayer, more than what happens in the very moment. With each decision we make, we decide for God. It might sound crazy I know, but this message just seems so relevant. I just think this because man is destroying the world, by taking from it rather than protecting. The means of protection, and salvation, surely must happen over time. It is cup by cup. Maybe this should be written down, particularly when everyone is so worried at present.’ Seth had the memory of Grandoaks auxiliary prominent as he said this. However, at this stage of his life he had settled into a way of life that was producing much more happiness. His position of power was a substantial source of stress, despite the success he had enjoyed there.
‘So I suppose there’s being Christ like, proclaiming God’s word and doing His will?’ Simon asked rhetorically, to stir reflection in the group of three. They soon after went home.
Maybury towns’ competitive games took place on a Saturday, and a particular Saturday is one that Seth will remember for the rest of his life.
‘Gee-us thee nummer love!’ A member of the club, Jake Joyman, shouts over to one of the supporters before his game. He was with a group of very jovial teammates, in training tops and tracksuit trousers. An iPhone was playing a variety of popular music songs whilst a football was knocked about between them on the pitch surrounded by the green Grandoaks countryside.
It was Maybury F.C first eleven against a mixture of reserves, senior and young players. Seth Smalling was in the latter.
The game was going very well, with a summer pre-season feel to it as most players were getting back into playing. It was just a good run around for most, who wanted to get back to a level of fitness. Of course it was an amateur club, so the game wasn’t taken too seriously. However, neither side wanted to lose.
In the 85th minute, the score was 3-0 to the first eleven. That was when it happened. Accidents do happen, but it becomes apparent that God had a purpose for this for Seth. Hence the saying ‘God moves in mysterious ways’.
Seth was through on goal, when Jake slide-tackled him. Seth was then knocked unconscious by the impact with the goalkeeper. The referee shouted over the dugout ‘Call an ambulance please!’, in a very assertive tone that ended the game by implication of the seriousness of the event. Unbeknown to Seth, the ambulance arrived 2 hours later.
Seth is a fortunate individual. In Grandoaks hospital, the doctors found that he had an aneurism that was easy to treat. However, they found that this very easily could have ruptured a blood supply within his brain that would have posed a risk to his life. The strangest thing, to him as well as family members when he came around, was the story he had to tell from his unconscious state.
This is the story he recalled, from the football field to the head injury ward. He firstly remembered skyscrapers, roads, cars on the road and cars flying between the buildings. It was a spectacular vision he was having. He also noticed tubes in between the buildings which human beings used to travel between. There were also electrical wires, telecommunications and many other aspects to this strange and futuristic city. This dream felt more like reality than his waking hours. The length of time, of the dream, Seth could not estimate on regaining consciousness. However, it felt like days whilst being experienced.
During the dream, Seth flew alongside the cars and observed the city from mid-way up the buildings, as well as all the way down at ground level. There were many shops with electrical signs, as well as electronic advertising hoardings.
At ground level, there were a variety of trees and plants as part of the landscaping. When Seth was at ground level, he was met by a very mysterious figure in a hooded coat so that Seth could not recognize any facial features.
‘Where am I?’ said Seth in sheer terror. At this stage, he was not aware of any clothes he was wearing, or the state of his hair. Simply the dream he was having was like watching a movie. It was a very real movie in consideration.
‘This is the future’, the hooded figure replied in a deep tone.
After he had this, the vision then changed nature. The trees and plants started to burn at first, before the entire road seemed to spontaneously catch fire. Seth then rose up away from danger. However, he then realized that the buildings started to fall down and the cars started to fly in all directions causing accidents and further explosions. Before long, in Seth’s dream, there was dust everywhere as well as fire and smoke right up to the top of the highest structure on the landscape.
By this time, Seth and the hooded figure were well above the scene.
‘What is this?’ Seth cried to the figure.
‘I told you, this is the future son’, the figure replied.
‘Who are you?’
‘The gate of the sheepfold.’
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone