(This is a potential excerpt from my upcoming book, SOUL DANCE: The Art of the Worship of God. )

A cat's mournful cry interrupted the offering. The priests tried to ignore it, but it grew louder and more insistent.

The older man turned to the younger. "How did that animal get in here? Get it out now, Ramaj!"

"Of course," said the young priest-in-training. He could not believe anything had been able to penetrate the outer court walls of the temple. How did this feline scale he 15-foot-high stone-slick walls?

He walked outside to observe the perimeter. The sun shone down, bright and cleark, warming him, energizing his soul.

Light. What would we do without it? he wondered, his eyes scanning the horizon. Everything depends on the light. Nothing can exist without it--except, perhaps, the kingdom of darkness.

He felt an odd sensation against his leg, and looked down to find a huge white cat rubbing against the purple of his priestly robe. Anger and disgust rose in him.

"Leave!" he commanded, kicking at it violently.

It vanished!

Was it a trick of the light? he wondered. A hologram? But then where would the feeling have come from--demonic powers? Samsul heard it too...

His mind was spinning as he walked around the corner of the wall.

All he could see was mountains and sand.

I am one of the Untouchables, of the Righteous sect, he thought.

Or am I?

I must cleanse myself again, because of that unclean animal!

He felt dizzy, and steadied himself against the stone.

Do I really have a blood Covenant with Jehovah, or am I deceived? He felt like he would vomit. Will I be found righteous enough to enter the Most Holy Place, when I rise to the priesthood?

Am I unclean today, even after all the ceremonial washings? Was that a hallucination ? Or did that cat save my life?

He shuddered at the thought of the stench of the sacrifice; how it clung to his skin for days.

He started to feel more sick at his stomach, and retched.

What if, when I become the high priest, I enter the Most Holy Place, and never come out?

Samsul is very old. Soon, it will be my turn.

He steadied himself, and raised his head to the heavens.

Will I ever be ready?

He looked down at the hem of his garment. There on the edge of the purple sash was a long, silky white hair.

He picked up a handful of sand and threw it against the wall; then another, and threw it on top of his head.

More washing; always the washing! Can the blood of one animal really cleanse me from the filth of another?

© 2016 by Tonja K. Taylor

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22 But rather, you have come to Mount Zion, even to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless multitudes of angels in festal gathering, 23 And to the church (assembly) of the Firstborn who are registered [as citizens] in heaven, and to the God Who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in heaven) who have been made perfect, 24 And to Jesus, the Mediator (Go-between, Agent) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood which speaks [of mercy], a better and nobler and more gracious message than the blood of Abel [which cried out for vengeance].--Hebrews 12:22-24, AMPC

Through books, courses, presentations, service, prayer, worship, and more, Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. Her series for girls, P.O.W.E.R. GIRL ADVENTURES, is now out (books I-V), along with LEGACY; YOUR HOLY HEALTH: VISIONS OF THE KING, and more. See the "River Rain Creative" YT channel.