As we moved forward I asked: "What is your name?"
"You may call me Dora."
"You are a woman?"
"I have taken such a form so that you will be more comfortable with me as your guide. you know why."
Now that we had moved away from the crowd, I noticed that she exuded a delicate fragrance, like an apple tree in bloom or lilacs in the spring. Her appearance was that of an Olympic champion, yet with an enchanting feminine beauty.
The mountain now loomed before us. There seemed to be various ascending paths, all more or less steep.
Surveying them, I asked, "Are you sure that I have the strength to get to the top?"
"Of course you don't, but you have already made your choice for the Sun, and from it you will draw strength."
"But suppose I turn away?"
"Step into the shadow of this rock."
I did so. Immediately a chill shot through me, and I had difficulty breathing. Quickly I stepped back into the sulnlight.
"There are places on the path which we shall take where you must pass through shadows, but they will make the sunlight ever dearer to you."
"Those who did turn away: what happened to them?"
"They rejected Love and so could not endure the light. When we pass through shadows they may appear and attempt to hinder us. You may safely ignore them. Other than that, I do not know their fate, for it does not interest me. But come, let us begin the ascent."
She started up one of the paths, and I followed. Around us other pairs were taking various paths. Of those on our own, the ones farthest ahead were already beginning to scale a cliff, using handholds and footholds in the rock.
I said: "Well, I've never been a fan of mountain-climbing, but that doesn't look too hard."
"Wait until you try it," said Dora.
............
Our path now led past an overhanging cliff and the mouth of a cave. As we entered the shadow I shivered, but then I noticed a strange phenomenon. Small objects that looked like burst balloons were drifting out of the cave. Curious, I caught one of them, but immediately let it go, for it burned my fingers. Rubbing my hands, I realized that my fingers were almost frozen.
"What's this?" I said "dry ice?"
"no," said Dora, "it is someone who rejected Love and who has come to oppose us."
"But why do they look like burst balloons, and why are they so cold?"
"All creatures, including me, are empty vessels until filled with God's grace. These have chosen to be not merely empty but broken. They are at home only in the dark, and so they are cold. But let us hurry through this shadow, for I see that you are turning blue."
As we emerged again into the sunlight I took a deep breath and asked: "Doesn't the shadow bother you also?"
"Yes, but the sun shines always in my heart, so the shadow can do me no real harm."
............
We were now walking beside a clear mountain lake. Glancing at my reflection in the water, I saw that much of the dirt had fallen off my clothing.
Seeing me looking at the reflection, Dora said: "Try to brush more of it off."
Vigorously brushing myself, I was rewarded with a shower of black flakes. My clothing now looked almost clean.
Dora said: "This is the result of your efforts on this mountain. Now you can even look at the Sun."
"No, It will burn my eyes."
"But try."
I did, and to my surprise I could look directly at that incomprehensibly fiery orb.
Dora continued: "Your shadow has become much lighter. We are near the top."
Then for the first time I noticed that she cast no shadow at all, though she was resplendent with reflected sunlight.
As we went past the lake I noticed a huge cliff towering over us. It appeared to be thousands of feet high.. "Am I supposed to climb THAT?" I asked.
"Yes. The effort will strengthen you to stand before God, and all the dirt remaining on your clothing will be gone when you reach the top."
............
We stood now on an open square. Before us was a magnificent city, reached by a majestic flight of marble steps.
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