The Cattle on a Thousand Hills

I walked with assurance to the gate and range the bell. In a few moments, the Master Himself appeared. He opened it and motioned me inside. I found myself suddenly uncertain and said nothing as we walked through the path in the woods. I could see the forest gloom lighten and there burst upon my sight great light and the impression of the greatest expanse of space I had ever seen. 

There were hills in every direction that teemed with life. Millions of cattle grazed there. All of the hills had them, both small and great. And, mixed in between were vast cities of people, rivers, oceans, and woods.

I was moved with awe, and there came to the forefront of my mind the memory of a saying of long ago: "For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills." I saw before me all the resources of the world, and beside me the Master and Owner. 

The sight of the great wealth made me courageous, and I opened my mouth, but He spoke before me.

"What is it my child? You came to me for a reason."

I pointed at a nearby hill.

"Master," I said, "I have need to pay a small debt to a man, and I was wondering, well, since you have so much, might I borrow the cattle on that hill over there? It is a very little one, with only two or three head upon it and surely you could not miss it much?"

He answered not a word, but began walking more briskly. We wound our way along the edge of the hills, between them and the forest by which we had entered. Gradually, the hills dwindled to a small plain, or valley, and soon we entered a little wood.

When the trees parted once again, He stopped.

"Child, what do you see?"

"I see a hill, Master, of a strange shape."

"What shape, my child?"

"It seems to be that of a whitened skull, my Master."

"What do you see on this hill, child?"

"Master, I see a cross. It is empty."

As I said the words, I looked back the way we had come, and I saw again the greatness and the vastness of the resources that the Master owned. I looked also at the hill before us and at the empty cross. And I thought of the demand I had asked of my Master. I fell to my knees.

"Master, forgive me. I owe You my life, my soul, my all. I have no right to ask anything of You. I am no more than a beggar or a dog."

He only smiled, and led the way to the little hill I had requested.

"It is yours, my child. I give it you," He said.

 I fell to my knees again, and said, "Master, I don't understand. I do not deserve it, nor anything else. Why do you do this?"

And He answered and said unto me, "Because I love you."