A tale of two towns.
Or …What sort of Christian are you?

Grovelling below the overshadowing mountain Servilia crouches. By night huddled and cowering in its looming presence, unseen and yet imprinted into the town’s existential consciousness. By day in a flurry of busyness, burdened by duties innumerable. Shuffling hurriedly from place to place only to return at eventide. Fatigued as a prisoner chained up to his neighbour and forced to work overseen by an immense guard insatiable. A small parcel or sunshine is granted to the town occasionally but all too soon the mountain swallows up the light and leans over the town with its dark menacing shadow. often the clouds are drawn down around it leaving the citizens to persevere through murky darkness all the while feeling the foreboding proximity of the invisible power. Ever watching, controlling, evaluating every move, every task, every word. Scarcely daring to peer up at the domineering presence hanging over them. Every man and woman bows inwardly to his or her lot in life. Occasionally one will conjure up courage and ascend the enormous overbearing rocky mount to endeavour to attain knowledge of its structure and power. They are mostly seen no more or return confused and discouraged because their ambition was unfulfillable.  The rest of them then live in fear of the wrath which they know will come. Punishment and destruction by way of avalanche, flood or volcanic eruption. 
The other city Reginia is perched atop her mountain as though a natural outgrowth of the mountaintop. She enjoys the light of the sun all day long. Inhabitants are unrushed in all they do. They often stand and survey the extent of the kingdom below them and all around them. They bask in their lofty position, their houses built upon the highest rocks. Centuries come and go and their golden town remains untouched by any fear, worry or disaster. Joy and peace reign as the people are secure in their position and protection their mountain offers them. Nothing can reach them from below and this they well know. The mountain provides fresh springs, fertile soil and warming sun in abundance. They are provided for and can enjoy all the pleasures a full life can offer.
Sometimes Christians are like the inhabitants of Sevilia. They know only a life of submission towards an unknown God from whom they fear only punishment. However hard they work they will never attain His pleasure or protection. Should someone attempt to get to know how He really is, such a one can never attain to the heights of knowledge of this deity. In their own strength they are never able to reach the summit. 
How much happier are the inhabitants of Reginia. These Christians have set their feet upon the rock of Christ from whom they enjoy a position of power, rest, safety, joy, clarity and peace. They are provided for by God, they are blessed with all they require, they enjoy endless protection from any enemy which may come along. Best of all, they are seated as it were in the heavenlies and all earthly problems seem to them very small from their lofty position high above the plains below them.

Celia Ienco