The Open Scroll

Imagine a village with a beautiful river running through it. It is breathtaking. Its waters are clear. Its banks are inviting. It is beautiful, desirable, alluring. From a distance, it appears to offer everything a person could possibly want. Every man can look at it and imagine some version of his own fantasy waiting in its waters. But the river has a dark secret. Those who enter it do not simply swim and return. They begin to lose themselves. A person steps into the water, then goes a little deeper. Then a little deeper still. Before long, he is wading farther than he intended. Eventually, he disappears beneath the surface, and the village never sees him again. Over time, the people discovered the truth about the river. They learned about those it had swallowed. They heard the stories of families destroyed, lives ruined, and futures lost. They began to understand that beneath the beauty of the river was something deadly. Yet knowing this did not stop everyone. Why? Because the river ...

There is a river in the village. It is beautiful. That is the problem. If it were ugly, filthy, and obviously poisonous, nobody would go near it. If its waters smelled of death and its banks were covered with warnings, people would have little difficulty staying away. But this river is different. Its waters sparkle in the sunlight. Its banks are inviting. Its current is gentle. From a distance, it looks almost perfect. It promises enjoyment. It promises freedom. It promises satisfaction. It seems to whisper to every person who approaches: "Come a little closer." And people do. At first, they only stand at the edge. Then they put their feet in. Then their ankles. Then their knees. And before they realise what is happening, they are in too deep. The river has a secret. It does not merely drown people. It changes them before it drowns them. Those who enter begin to lose their judgement. They begin to believe they are in control. They convince themselves that they can go further ...