Page 80 of Chasing Lynda

“That’s highly irregular, Aaron! The rules have been created by our founder and sanctioned by the elder’s council. You can’t—”

“I can,” I state calmly, settling a disapproving glare on him. “Before Harold’s demise, he personally declared me enlightened. As you’re aware, I was the only member of this church who had reached the highest level and that was why Harold chose me as the lead pastor for the new church. With Harold gone, I’m the only man in our community who embodies the Light. The previous rules are biased against women and forcing them into ‘mission’ if they’re found impure is detrimental to their destiny.” I look at the young woman sitting between her parents. “Delaney approached me and confessed that she isn’t pure. She let her body’s needs guide her actions and gave herself to—”

“Pastor!” The girl squeals. “I told you that in confidence. I thought confession was going to remain secret, I—”

I slam my closed fist down on the coffee table, making my empty glass clink dangerously. “Silence!” I bellow. “Woman, have you been allowed to speak?”

The girl shakes her head, her eyes shiny with unshed tears and that makes me rock hard.

“Delaney, you’re confusing the path of the Light with the catholic confession. I took no vow of secrecy and the only way to restore the purity you so foolishly squandered is through atonement. Remember how we talked about it?”

The girl nods, her lips quivering nervously. “Yes, Pastor.”

I nod, smiling at the two families. “Purity can be restored as long as the woman is repentant and she accepts to let the Light make her new. In that case, she’ll be declared suitable for an enlightened union.”

Dr. Berger shakes his head. “Are we talking about hymenoplasty? I don’t think—”

It takes me just one look to reduce him to silence. “I think this entire time, we’ve been confusing purity with virginity. The two things can coincide but a virgin isn’t necessarily ‘pure.’ Purity is a state of mind and a body that’s reborn again, purified with ritual water and opened to receive the Light.”

Dr. Berger’s question makes me smile. “Are you talking about baptism?”

My smile widens. Being educated doesn’t guarantee being smart. “I think we need to stop looking at false religions and their rituals here. Some of the ancient religions show us valid glimpses that could help reach and maintain enlightenment. But those faiths have at some point closed their doors to the Light.”

Judge Connelly speaks for the first time since he entered the room with his wife and his daughter. “Pastor Lawrence, you keep referring to the ‘Light’ as if it was a separate entity. While Pastor Winthrop was preaching that enlightenment was a state of mind that one could reach by living life following the Five Pillars. I don’t understand.”

What did I just say? This guy is a judge but he’s just slightly smarter than the good Dr. Berger.

“Enlightenment is a journey.” I pontificate. “The Five Pillars are a foundation necessary to stay on the righteous path. Pastor Winthrop was absolutely on point with his teachings about the Light, remember how he explained that we need to elevate our souls by leaving behind anything that prevents us from becoming a vessel for the Light? That’s exactly what I’m talking about and Harold would’ve revealed the final step to the Light, had not his journey been cut short. Once you become a vessel for the Light, you become one with it. You’re part of the divine, a projection of the Light in this world.”

They finally get what I’m saying.

Mrs. Berger raises her hand. I nod, giving her permission to speak, pleased that her husband has her under control. “So are you saying that you become God?”

I nod. “That’s precisely what I’m saying,” I confirm. “A righteous man who reaches the highest level of enlightenment and opens himself to the Light, becomes an incarnation of that Light.”

I know the exact moment when the implications of my new doctrine dawns on Dr. Berger and Judge Connelly. The first one speaks with barely contained fury. “And there’s only one man in our church, as far as we know, who reached such high level of enlightenment.”

My smile conveys my satisfaction at the situation these two elders and members of the inner circle have put themselves in.

They either accept me as a god and help me with making sure that the entire community does without questioning it, or they have everything to lose.

The real genius part of Harold’s doctrine, was having the influence to reward his inner circle with increased power in the form of job promotions and fast climbing up whatever career ladder they pursued; all the while making sure their taxes were negligible through whatever elaborate scam Greggs concocted, using the church as a means to evade the IRS. Both men know that if they don’t back me, they stand to lose everything they gained in the last two years. After all, this is the beauty of climbing the levels of enlightenment. The further your fall from grace, the more ruinous the wounds you’ll get.

The two inner circle men’s eyes glaze over. Berger is fuming because his son is getting the raw end of the deal; it’s like having to buy refurbished tech, rather than the latest, hottest items available on the market. However, Connelly looks grateful that his daughter won’t be subjected to ‘mission’ by accepting to have her purity restored.

The soon to be betrothed young man asks an important question. “So when will the purification ritual take place?”

I smile, pleased that the young man understands that he has everything to gain by accepting my decision. “It’ll take place right now, as long as Delaney has followed my instructions and meditated like I recommended.”

The girl nods and I raise from my chair, inviting everyone to follow me to the community indoor pool that has been closed down tonight in preparation for the ritual.

***

AARON

Two attendants wait for us at the pool. I encourage Delaney to follow one of them in the ‘preparation room’ and let the other one usher me into the one of the private changing rooms reserved for the inner circle members.

There’s a private shower and a mini bar and I pour myself a drink after using the shower and putting on one of the fluffy white robes hanging into the small closet.

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