The Poor Man's Salvation

Nithose clutched his aching stomach. Four days passed since he had eaten. He sat in front of the castle gates, pandering.

“Food or money for a hungry man?” Nithose said as he held out open hands.

Most people ignored him.

A woman in a clean blouse stopped and smiled at him. “You poor soul. Here you go,” she said as she gave him three gold coins. “God bless you, sir.”

“Three coins-enough for a good meal at the inn,” Nithose said to himself.

He stood in his tattered clothes and bare feet. He walked towards the inn and in ten minutes, he made it to the entrance. He walked in and sat at a table. The people inside stared at him.

A pudgy stout woman neared his table. “You do have money with you, correct?”

Nithose nodded and placed the coins on the table.

“Good then, what would you like?”

“Anything hot to eat.”

“We have sweet sausage with beans, bacon topped with eggs.”

“Sounds good.”

The woman took the coins and walked away.

Nithose folded his hands. His mouth watered as he smelled the dishes of other people.

The woman came with the food and Nithose plucked the sausage with his hands and then went for his bacon. He choked a bit as he ravenously ate. He cleared his throat and finished in three minutes. Satisfaction met his belly.

Nithose walked out happy but wondering when he would get his next meal. He made his way to the city church cathedral. It was the one place where he was welcomed. On his way he saw a garden of a flower bed with roses arranged in the figure of the number 23.

He entered the church and sat in a pew with some others.

Priest Haren spoke at the pulpit. “Today, we will go over John chapter 23 verse 23.” At the end of the message, Haren made a peculiar statement. “God has told me of a dream He will give to select people, some in this church. Gabriel the angel shall visit these few people in this dream and offer a riddle. May fortune, grant you success.”

Haren walked off the pulpit and Nithose left. He walked to a nearby pond with geese. For amusement, he started counting them and there were 23. Nithose the previous two times he encountered the number 23. He pulled out his chin then something caught his attention-three men were playing a card game for money. Nithose got close enough to see the table they were at.

“It’s all in. Whoever wins gets the 23-coin jack pot,” said one of the three.

Nithose walked away at that moment, puzzled. “23 again!”

Night drew near and he went to a brazier to warm himself. He curled up next to the roaring flame and slept. He woke up in the morning and stood to stretched. He peered up at the sky and saw the strangest thing-ducks were flying in the shape of the number 23.

Nithose gasped. “That is not natural! What could this mean!”

Nithose noticed a group of people around a single person. Nithose walked to the small crowd and heard the words of the man in the center. “And in my dream, I was visited by Gabriel!-just like priest Haren said!”

“What happened!” said man in the crowd.

“I was in a circular chamber with three-hundred marked doors. He asked me that one of the doors led to a heavenly realm called Shangri la!”

“What did you say!” asked another.

“I did not know what to say. I just chose the last one, three hundred. But it was not the right one. Then I awoke.”

Nithose walked away and went back to the gate of the city. On his way there, he walked by the blacksmith. On a rack behind him held swords. The man went to the rack to take one of them and they all toppled to the ground and the blades fell on each other making the number 23.

He continued to the gate and noticed two scholars enter the church and he was curious and he entered as well. The two scholars sat down and began talking.

Nithose slipped silently sat behind them and listened:

“Yes. It will be a sight of the decade!” said one.

“Indeed! It will last 23 days! I can’t wait to see the heavenly sight!”

“We are fortunate we have a telescope to see the planetary phenomenon!”

Nithose was curious about the many times he had entered the number 23. After the sermon, Nithose asked priest Haren about Nithose’s numerous times he met that exact number.

“Perhaps God is trying to tell you something. Just keep this thing in your heart and you will be blessed.”

Nithose made for the gate. He thought about Haren’s words. When he arrived at the gate he did as he did and begged. Suddenly, two bulky men in royal robes grabbed Nithose and took him to an alley.

“Please, friends! Have pity on me!”

“The world is better without scum like you. Me must purge the useless from society.”

“The two men beat Nithose until he was bruised and bleeding and left for dead. “Oh, Lord have mercy on me,” Nithose uttered. He drifted into a slumber and had a dream.

A man with stork’s wings having eyes of flame stood before Nithose.

“I am Gabriel. To you, an opportunity has been given to you. Do you see all these doors?”

“Yes, good angel,” Nithose said trembling.

“One leads to the paradise of God. Make your choice.”

Nithose went blank. What could he say. His mind was flustered to decide. He felt his heart drum.

Then he recalled the words of Haren. Then it struck his thoughts. “Twenty-three! I choose the twenty-third door!”

“Blessed are you of God! Go your way! Shangri la awaits you!”

The door opened and light flooded through it. Nithose cried tears of joy and entered into the great and mysterious realm of God!