I stand amongst the hills and valleys in wonder. At what point will they end or will they simply go on forever, my only hope is for long gentle plateaus where I can catch my breath and rest, for I am weary. I wonder what strength Prometheus possessed each night for each day was filled with the agony of trying to save all of mankind. I am not Prometheus, I am a Dolor Congreget. I gather from everyone near me and hold it for them so that they do not feel it. As the light begins to wane and I begin my descent I can only hope that I have enough strength to climb from the depths and conquer another valley. With each step I feel the remaining strength I have left seep from my skin. I know what is coming. It comes with the darkness. It comes whether I am ready or not. It comes with a vengeance and knows no bounds. It is the Probatio Fidei. The test of Faith.

Here the path is heavily warn and easy to follow. The descent into the shadows is followed by all at some point. It is the path going up the other side that is hard to follow. I stumble none the less. With each step I feel the weight of my burdens. It is my calling to carry for all. It is my gift, but it is heavy. As I reach the bottom I feel myself tremble for I know that I have made it here, but I also know that now the hard part begins. I just want to rest, I want to know peace for just a moment. I am tempted to lie down and be taken. I close my eyes for a moment and see all of the pain in the world and how easy life would be if I had no burdens to bare. I slowly open my eyes and know the test has begun. SAMYAZA, They have felt my weakness. They have sent the leader of the fallen for my soul. He stands in front of me a picture of perfection. There is no dirt under his fingernails and his hair does not blow in the slight breeze that is around us. He does not speak but I can see his intentions reflected from his eyes. I look close and see the flames that shimmer out of the cuffs of his tailored shirt. I feel the pressure of his gaze as it weighs me down even more and I feel that I can not stand it anymore. I want to fight but I don’t know if I can. His weight is so great that I just want to let him take it away. I want to give up so that he can take it all away. I begin to waver and slowly fall to my knees. I tremble, I shake, all of the fear and pain that is inside of me vibrates as I struggle to hold it all in. I begin to waver and fall.

I feel myself falling and as if I am on a cloud I feel my weight lifted off of the ground and I am moving. I slowly turn my head and look back. Samyaza is smiling. He puts in my mind that we shall meet again. I tell myself that next time I will not be so weak. My fellow travelers carry me until we are out of site of the fallen and set me down. I thank them for their strength. They reply that I am so weak because I carry too much for all of them. “You have saved all of us in the darkness as well.” They pull me up and we all start moving up now. The first test has been passed. Our hope is that it will be a gentle slope to climb, our reality is that it will be very difficult. Our faith in our Master has been tested, now it is time to test our hearts. How much are we willing to endure to fulfill our destiny. We climb in the darkness. Those of us that are still on the path have grouped together. Unfortunately we are so few that have made it this far. So many fail in the valley and so many give up when it gets really tough. We are on our hands and knees now. Our fingers are bloody and our cloths in shreds. I feel that I can not go on anymore. I try to find a remedy that will allow me to stop. My burdens push me down. I sink into the mud of despair, If only I could go on.

“I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT.” The call is relayed down the line and wails of thankfulness fill the air. I begin to tremble. If they have seen the light then I know that I am close to the top. I can make it. I feel the tears as they slowly leak from me. My whole body weeps. I shudder as the burdens that I have been carrying fall to ground. I shake as the pain is released and my burden is lifted. I am cleansed as the light breaks the crest. I climb up the rest of the way though the blood and tears of so many that have passed before me. As we all reach the top we gather around and bask in the warmth of the light. We join together and give thanks that we have made it though another valley. That we have traveled through the darkness once again and have overcome. As we set out once again across another plateau to gather our burdens we also gather the light. Yes, I am weary, but with each burden I gather I leave light in its place. That is what I am made for, It is my destiny. I am Dolor Congreget, but also Formans Lucem, a giver of light.