The Festival had come and gone and for the most part, it was a merry time. The Council’s stimulus program went off without a hitch and none were the wiser that they had acted on their own accord while the king remained missing. They gave away food, cut taxes, deferred loan payments and even offered health care to the sick, all in an effort to boost the economy. During the Festival, there were parties galore, celebrating continued throughout the night and well into the follow days. Gifts and more gifts moved from stores and into homes. It seemed like anybody who was anybody gave gifts; it became trendy and posh, and no one wanted to be that person who didn’t give gifts. Yes, life went on and the folks were once again busy and happy. People went to work cheerfully, for at days end, they knew they could go home to their gifts. Yes, sir, Arrogance’s man was right; these people surely were predictable when their bellies were full!

But not all was bliss. The Council was ordered together and the tension in the air could be cut with a knife. They waited for Arrogance’s man; he had ordered the meeting and he had warned them that the news was not good. And so, when he finally entered the room, there was no reason to call the meeting to order, for each member found his seat quickly and quietly. They looked at him intently and uncomfortably; it seemed that for the first time he was at a loss for words. His lifted his ashen face with an air of confidence but could not hide his fearful, fallen eyes; they spoke volumes, even before he opened his mouth. “Brothers, I have terrible news,” he began. “As I was going through the king’s books and business records, I discovered that his treasury is completely depleted! There is no money!”

“What?” cried one of the senior members! “Are you telling us that there is no money left in the treasury at all? No money to pay for this stimulus program?”
“That is exactly what I am saying!” he shouted back.

“We are ruined! The kingdom cannot stand, it is sure to collapse,” moaned another. “It will only be a matter of time.”

“What have we done?” lamented another. “We, by our own making, have brought the kingdom to utter ruin, and now we have no king to lead us. The townsfolk will have our heads for lying to them. We are all doomed!” The sullen Council dispersed to break the news to their families and to await that fateful day when the awful truth would be revealed. They all knew deep in their hearts that the collapse was imminent and it seemed that the king would never be found.

He slipped into town under the cover of darkness. No one was really sure when he arrived or where he had come from. He appeared to be poor, yet it was apparent that he had unlimited treasures. His generosity paled only against his kindness and wisdom. Who was this man among them? He seldom spoke but when he did, his words continued to echo in the hearts of all who heard him. He taught them how to live together in peace and harmony and to care for the widows and orphans. It was rumored that he could heal the sick. Once, he walked up to the home of a poor family and knocked gently on the door. The family was preparing their evening meal as the father opened the door to the stranger. “Can I help you?”

The stranger smiled as though he needed no help, yet asked, “May I come in and sup with you?” The father looked back to his family at the table, the portions were barely enough for themselves. He looked again to the stranger and back again to his family. Once more he looked at his visitor – a stranger in need? “Yes! Yes you may. Come in and warm yourself by the fire and eat from our table. Stay with us for as long as you like.” The man’s wife gave the stranger a meager plate of food and he thanked her kindly. The family ate at the table, while the stranger ate by the fire. He watched them carefully. He loved them dearly. He would care for them wholeheartedly. The father once more looked at the stranger, their eyes met as he contemplated this man who now sat in his home, “I have a feeling this man will bring more to this home than I could ever offer him. Somehow, he has given me hope and this wonderful feeling whispers that things will never be the same.”

With both hands around his warm cup of drink and his eyes fixed on the father, the stranger smiled assuredly at him and nodded in agreement. Just then, the poor man’s heart exploded with joy as he realized he was in the presence of purest royalty!

In the midst of generations, in the fullness of time
In the shadow of vales, Deity disrobed
Revealing love and goodness and mercy sublime.
In the midst of two, even in the midst of three
Amongst the poor in spirit, Deity disrobed
Teaching wisdom and truth and setting the captive free.
O Silent night, O Holy night
This night our hearts are renewed
For Deity hath chosen to disrobe
And hath chosen to dwell with you.

From the highest of heights to the corners of the earth
From the Throne of Heaven, Deity disrobed.
Bringing all His treasure, beginning with new birth.
Heavens declare and the angels sing the chorus
Who hath believed the report? Deity disrobed
Rejoice! In swaddling clothes, He is seen by us.
O Silent night, O Holy night
This night our hearts are renewed
For Deity hath chosen to disrobe
And hath chosen to dwell with you.

Now the eye has hope and the heart may understand,
Faith reasons with the mind, Deity disrobed
Now the grave has no victory, for Deity became a man.
Now the poor are rich and the weak are made strong,
The last shall be first, because Deity disrobed
The lost are found and the outcast belong.
O Silent night, O Holy night
This night our hearts are renewed
For Deity hath chosen to disrobe
And hath chosen to dwell with you.

Arrogance’s man knocked again, and again, but there was only silence. “Sire?” he asked raising his voice, “My lord, open the door!”

As he continued to pound on the door another member of the council came to see what the ruckus was all about. “The king is not responding and I fear that he may be in need of our help.” The two of them began to pry the door open and within a few minutes they entered the king’s chamber. Empty! The king was missing! Arrogance’s man kept his cool. “Listen, we must keep this quiet, but search every room of this castle. While we are searching let’s call an emergency meeting of the council.” After searching all night the council gathered together just before dawn. Every member felt the dismay and trepidation. A sense of hopelessness haunted every question of what do they do next. “Let’s make another thorough search,” said one. “Nonsense! He’s missing from the castle. We can only think that he has been kidnapped or…” said another. “Don’t say it,” interrupted another, “He is not murdered, or kidnapped or…” “Then where is he?” They all began talking over one another. Finally, Arrogance’s man spoke up.

“Brothers, please! Silence. We need to bring order to this meeting or we will never accomplish anything. Now, I suggest that we keep the matter of the king’s disappearance within our own ranks. We shall not even speak of this to our families. Look what it has done to us. Could you imagine what would happen to the castle if they knew he was gone? We must continue with the plan that we had arrived at earlier this evening. We must go on as though we had the king’s approval of our stimulation program.” The council began nodding in approval as he continued.

“We must repair the damage to the door of the king’s chamber and post a guard. We will act as though he is inside his chambers and I will go in from time to time to appear as though I am speaking with him. Are we agreed?” Again they nodded while looking at one another, as though each member wanted to assure himself that another member agreed.
“Finally, as we implement our program and go out into the countryside, we shall search diligently for our beloved king. But this must be done with the greatest discretion, with open eyes but silent tongues. No one is to even breathe a word of the secret we are keeping here tonight. If this news ever got out into the kingdom –it would collapse beyond recovery! I believe that we are capable of turning this kingdom around and if the people are happy and safe, if they are well fed and entertained, then…” he didn’t believe these words were going to leave his mouth, “should we never find the king, they will not mind so much that he is gone.”

“You mean that we are going to keep the king’s disappearance a secret until…” questioned the eldest council member.

“That is exactly what I mean! Listen, the townsfolk really love the king, but it is in their own way. They know that he is good and merciful. When they get themselves into trouble, he is generally there to help them out. His gifts to the poor have not gone unnoticed. I even remember the time that he kept our enemy from going to war with us. These people know this too. But I have also noticed that when things are going well, the people soon forget the king. They don’t visit the castle with their gifts as often and have you ever noticed that when things are going well, the people never show up for his festivals? They all seem too busy with their own things. One thing we have going for us, Brothers, is that these folks forget the important things of the heart when the belly is full. Now, I suggest that we get busy. We only have five days left before the festival.”
To be continued…

The council sat quietly as he sipped from the water glass. Swallowing deliberately and with a sigh, he had their attention.

“Gentlemen, the time is come to act. The king is in dire straits, the kingdom in shambles and all of this because of rot within. We haven’t been attacked by any outside enemy and no one seems to have an answer for this dilemma. So, I am proposing a solution and I am completely open for any opinion or suggestion.”

There was some murmuring among the counsel but the consensus seemed to give him the “go ahead” to speak. After another swallow of water he offered his help.

“Now you are all aware that our national holiday is just a couple of weeks away and with the situation the way it is, well I think that we should revamp this thing and turn it into one of the most sought after holidays ever. Let’s get the folks thinking about something other than their troubles. What if we gave everyone in the whole kingdom, I mean everyone, man, woman and child, some sort of gift and maybe some food. Then we can encourage them to give each other gifts and such. You know, we can even turn this thing into a great enterprise and even boost the economy. Money will be flowing in the markets and you know when the money flows –people are happy. This will create jobs and if you think about it, even good will toward one another. We’ll encourage them to send cards to one another. And this is how we’ll do it; we’ll suggest that the more they send out, the more they’ll get. People like receiving, so… I know; we’ll make this holiday the season for giving. Think about it; if you thought your uncle was going to give you something then you’re going to make sure that you get him something. You’re certainly not going to let him get one up on you!”

The counsel’s chuckles were heard between nods of affirmation and appeals to go on. “Why don’t we have one of us go out into the villages and begin distributing some gifts and some food to get this thing going? And while we’re at it, why don’t we suggest they decorate their homes with lights and bells and things?

“This is a great idea!” Another member piped in, “I have a friend that owns a card shop and this would be good business for him.” I’ll get him writing cards that will say all kinds of nice things. You know, something that will warm the heart, sooth the soul and say… well, just what the folks want to hear.”

And another offered a suggestion, “I know, I know what we can do. We can say something like this: We know if you have been naughty or nice and if you’re nice we’ll put you on a list that will enable you to get more things this holiday! The nicer you are to your family and friends the more stuff you get. I think the folks will get into this. This will be good for all of us.”

The counsel drew up the final plans, which they affectionately called “Stimulating Holiday Spirit.” They were eager to promote the program as soon as possible. Everyone was in agreement and ready to work. The only glitch would be if the king wouldn’t go for it. One of their own would have to convince him that this was the solution they were all looking for, and soon, things could get back to normal.

He who had been chosen by Arrogance announced, “I will go to the king. He will listen to me. He has trusted me in the past and there is no reason he will not trust me this time. After all, we are only trying to help by spreading good cheer and peace throughout the kingdom. I think the king will agree with us.”

The counsel was so confident in this man’s ability that they dispersed to their homes and families excited to jump-start their program. The king’s chamber door was shut and the silence from his room made the man hesitate to knock. But he would knock, because he knew that his plan was good and it would work. The king could rest with ease; he would take care of everything.

Arrogance left the horde to find his man. He searched high and low and in every city. There were many whom he thought would be a great candidate, yet he wanted just the right one; one in whom all the people would love and admire. He searched and searched throughout the kingdom and couldn’t find the right one, until…

“I have a splendid idea!” Arrogance thought to himself, “Why not search the king’s court? Yes, I am sure to find the man there, a fox in the henhouse, a traitor amongst the faithful, a man for the hour!”

Meanwhile more unrest was brewing in the kingdom. It had been a long time since anyone had heard any news from the king and rumors spread like wildfire. Small groups of folks would ban together to protect themselves from rival gangs. There was fighting in the streets and homes and families were being torn apart. The courts were inundated with lawsuits, divorces and criminal cases. Marriages suffered and children grew up trusting no one. The kingdom was in shambles and there looked to be no hope on the horizon. Pride stood atop the highest pinnacle looking satisfied at what he had accomplished thus far.

“I could never have imagined that I brought this all on by one little turning away. I never dreamed that by refusing the king and going my own way would have ever brought all this on. Now look at them, the little vermin! They all like sheep have turned away –each to his own way! Soon, I will rule them all.”

Now even the families within the king’s castle felt like prisoners. They weren’t allowed to go out into the towns because of the edict that the counsel had passed. They began to grumble amongst themselves, and to the counsel as well. An emergency meeting would take place; where something would be accomplished.

The pressure was on every counsel member to amend this new law. Something or some other way had to be found because the present situation was certainly not acceptable. The king, on the other hand, would be found alone in his chambers. Since the law was passed he had hidden himself away, fasting and praying. His heart was broken, he couldn’t bear the grief; these people were his children and he loved every one of them with all of his heart.

Now, the counsel members assembled alone in the meeting hall determined to come up with another solution. Well, at least they thought they were alone. Arrogance had slipped in unnoticed, no one was aware that an attack was about to take place. They had no clue that one of their own would be tempted, enticed, and ultimately deceived by the spirit of arrogance.

He looked each man over and studied out how each one carried himself around his peers. Did anyone stand out? Was there one in particular whom the counsel looked to? Yes! There he was sitting silently, yet still head and shoulders above them all. Good looking, confident and deliberate, he would be the one.

And so the whispers of Arrogance began and the counsel member began to be lifted up in his own eyes. His way would be the right way; his thoughts would be the best ideas. Besides, the king trusted him the most and relied heavily upon his wisdom. Many times the king had taken him aside to speak with him alone, and the other members knew that. He would use this favor to exalt himself. He should do this for the good of the kingdom.

He knew (because of Arrogance) that he was the man for the hour. He stood and quieted the room with his charismatic smile and piercing eyes. He was above them and he knew it. It wasn’t conceit, he thought, he just knew the simple fact; he was the man for the hour.

To be continued…