I dream…I dream of a world where people can do 
whatever they want. I dream of a place where people can live 
how they want; they can go out all night and not come home 
until 6 A.M. They can drink till they can drink no more. When 
they lose their senses or feel "stressed out" they can release 
with drugs. Then as they continue on they can meet someone 
like them. They can take this person back to "their place". 
Once there they can do whatever they choose. They can 
possibly decide to become more intimate. Then they might 
choose to go to bed…together. Then when one of them wakes 
up the next day, they can wake up alone. Then they can 
choose not to realize. To realize many things as their eyes open 
to a new day. But more importantly they don't realize that them 
being alone shouldn't be. They've chosen to forget. 
Remembering nothing of the night before they can choose to 
repeat the events…more or less. Of course they've also chosen to
 die…early…too early.

	I dream…I dream that people have the freedom to do 
whatever they want. They have the freedom to live how they 
want. They have the freedom to reach their limitless potential. 
They have the freedom to do anything for "fun" or to relieve 
stress, but they have the sense and intelligence and caring 
enough not to. They use their freedom for self-improvement, to 
help others, or to love someone. This is my dream…you too have
 the freedom to dream…please do…

"I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance"
						-Socrates
	Darkness...that's all...complete emptiness. Everything
 I perceived was as the void. Then a glimmer appeared. It was
 getting closer and closer, not bigger, but closer. Eventually it 
got close enough that I could make out something in it. Within 
the great ball of illuminance I saw a lifetime of pictures. The 
faces were astounding. I recognized most of them, like 
something out of the past. It was like something out of a high 
budget sci-fi movie. It kept moving closer and closer until it 
enveloped me. It sent me to a new place, untraversed by any 
before me. A void like the last, but still I knew it was not the 
same.
	I looked around me...hours, days...years seemed to 
pass. Time had no relevance. After what seemed to be an 
eternity or it could have been minutes, a vision appeared to me. 
It was a woman. Beautiful, older, very caring features. Then the 
face became a grotesque and hideous thing to look upon. I 
realized that I was seeing the true self of the creature. Cocky, 
superior, almost malignant in nature.

	Then the others appeared quickly, one after another, 
everything I perceived and then re-perceived then as they truly 
were. It brought me to the brink. I couldn't take the knowledge 
of the true nature of things. What was worse was that I was 
helpless to stop the visions. They came at me from all directions.
 No matter what I did. No matter how I struggled, they were 
there, mocking me by making me knowledgeable.

	Then, they all disappeared. All except one. The 
remaining was a vision of my own visage. Of all that I had seen 
before, this was the vision that scared me the most. What would 
my true nature be? It was then that I realized that all along this 
was the reason for the entire situation. This is why I had come. 
Then the face changed...and then again, and again, and again.
 Over and over I saw faces undulating a new vision with each 
beat of my life-giving heart.

	Then I opened my eyes.

	Of everything that had happened that which was most
 terrifying of all was that last face my vision had taken. As my 
own face contorted, faster and faster, it revealed an apex and 
then...stopped...back where I started...Darkness...that's 
all...complete emptiness. All I perceived was as the void.


	"Now reader, I have told my dream to thee;
	See if thou canst interpret it to me
	Or to thyself, or neighbor. But take heed
	Of misinterpreting; for that instead 
	Of doing good, will but thyself abuse
	By misinterpreting evil issues.
				-John Bunyan, "The Pilgrims Progress"

	It all started out like any other day. I woke up in the 
morning; cleaning and dressing myself like usual. It was a 
Saturday, and I didn't have to work today, so I was going to 
spend the day relaxing. As I stumbled into the living room, still a 
little sluggish from the night's rest, I noticed all the theology 
papers I had left out from the night before. That was the last 
thing I wanted to do today, this was day is mine. I headed 
straight to the kitchen to prepare some eggs to start the day 
with. I was just starting to melt some butter in a pan when my 
doorbell rang. Slightly annoyed I charged to the door thinking, 
"it's one of my students asking for help, or wanting to know their 
grade." I flung the door open and to my surprise there was an 
elderly gentleman standing there with a large case.

	"Greetings kind sir. I'm Gregory Shelob and I'm here 
on behalf of the British Booksellers Association, and I was 
wondering if you would be willing to take a look at out wares, 
with no obligation to buy anything. Now before you answer let 
me tell you that we have exactly what you need to aid you in 
your classroom. In fact we specialize in book on religion…And all 
you have to do is sit and look at my demonstration and you will 
automatically get any one book of your choice, absolutely free…?"

	"A free book?" I thought to myself, "This really isn't my 
interpretation of a relaxing but why not…if I don't like what I see I'll 
just send him on his way."

	"Sure come on in." I said, still hesitant, "Excuse the 
mess I was checking papers last night, and…"

	"Oh really? If you don't mind, I used to teach myself, 
what exactly are these papers?"

	"They're just some personal opinion about why they 
feel that their particular religion is right…it's the first step I'm using 
in opening up their minds."

"Ah, but do you open your mind to their opinions?" he asked 
accusingly.

	"I'm tolerant, if that's what you mean."

	"But did you ever stop and think, what if your wrong?
 What if their right?"

	"They're just a bunch of kids, ninety-five percent of 
them got their beliefs through their parents; not through true 
faith."

	"But as a human isn't it your obligation to always ask 
why?"

	"Uh, what?!? Could you just get back to your book 
selling or leave?" 

	Sorry if I push too hard. It's just hat I, like you, used to
 be very adamant about my faith, but eventually intellect taught 
me better. There are too many questions to have absolute faith.
 It doesn't work."

	"But it does work," I replied, "But why am I wasting 
time after all those without faith cannot understand it."

	"Well okay…" He said, choosing his words carefully. 
"How would you define Christian faith?"

	Carefully deciding my response, attempting not to 
catch myself in a verbal trap. I finally said, "A person with 
Christian faith is someone who believes in the Messiah and in 
the all powerful Lord, without question."

	"Well then I guess I would be one of the truest 
Christians ever…After all, I know without a doubt that there was a 
Messiah," he almost spat the words, "and that there is an all 
powerful lord. Furthermore I have always known it with just as 
much certainty for my entire life. Where others are influenced by 
Satan, and therefore doubt. I have been ever knowing without a
 single glimmer of doubt entering my thoughts."

	Astounded by the sincerity with which he spoke I 
replied, "If you are so adamant about you faith how can you say
 it doesn't work?"

	"Very simply. Your all-powerful lord doesn't care. He is 
a very vain entity. Otherwise why would he send you to Hell for 
not worshiping him? Does he require worship…no! Furthermore 
what has he ever done for you? Nothing he hasn't done for 
non-believers. But I can give you something…I will tell you now 
that if you speak out the words 'creatures of Hell show 
yourselves' then I will promise you that no evil thing will be able 
to hide itself from you."

	"Right," I said sarcastically, "as if simple words could 
have power over the supernatural. Like saying 'Creatures of Hell 
show yourselves…"

	I blinked. I swear that's all I did. When I looked 
around before I saw my humble home, but now I was in a 
completely different place, yet vaguely familiar. I was in a very 
dark place. I could gain just a hint of movement surrounding me. 
I stood there for minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years…time
 held no meaning there, wherever there was. After what seemed
 like ages the elderly bookseller appeared out of the darkness.

	"You see, simple words do have power over the 
supernatural…except the only thing supernatural is either 
daemons or angels…" he stated simply.

	Having had plenty of time to think, I had already 
thought that this might be the case. Also having had time to get
 my senses I decided to fight fear with humor…and my new found
 confidence allowed it to be delivered without hesitation. " I take
 it your not really a book salesman, and if you are you're the 
pushiest salesman I've ever met…your worse than a car 
salesman."

	"Yes, you see now…" He started.

	"Ah, I think I now you." I blurted out not letting him 
even entertain the thought of manipulating me again. "You a 
daemon yourself. You know, that's great because someone 
once told me that words had power over the supernatural."

	"That's right. The entire army of Hell is at your beck 
and call." He squeezed in before I went on.

	"In fact I've heard it two places. Once from you and 
once from God. You see, both of you say I can command you, 
but only one says why, and only one tells me exactly what you 
are." His face contorted and he reached out to stop my words, 
but I continued. "You are evil, you are greed, you are the plague
 that destroys all humanity. But you will not claim this prize. You 
will not have my soul. Not now, not ever. Because I have been 
saved by the Lord. So in the name of Jesus Christ, who 
commands me and you, be gone from my life and never return to
 me for as I command you the Lord God enforces."

	Just like before it seemed as though I blinked and I 
was back in my living room. I looked around and saw no 
evidence that the salesman was ever there. I thought that 
maybe it was all just a figment of my imagination. Looking around
 I noticed the mess of papers I was checking the day before. I 
bent down to straighten them up and I noticed a corner of 
colored paper poking out from under the table. Picking it up I 
read the front of the brochure saying, "British Booksellers 
Association: We're Always There"