The Road To Glory
© 2013 - William C. Highsmith


The elderly man looked on in amazement at the scene before him. Since he was a child, Charlie had known the old road by the name of Glory Road. He remembered his Grandpa had often told the tale of how it got its name. If he could see it now, he would consider it was appropriately named.

Some folks would think only of the fable about a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. However, Charlie rejoiced in his heart as he remembered the story in the Bible about the first time the majestic bow was seen.

And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.
Genesis 9:13-16

It had rained a lot in recent days. The streams were swollen as they rushed towards the river and finally to the sea. This reminder was timely.

Although it appeared that the bow terminated at the end of the road, Charlie knew - actually the road meandered and crossed over a couple of streams and finally came through a pass over the mountains and into a long valley. It was in this valley the old gold-mining town called Glory was situated. It was home now to only one or two grizzled die-hard prospectors still working to find their 'riches'.

Charlie reflected on the last time he went through the area. There was one dirt road lined with the remains of several saloons, a cafe, and two general stores. Hanging on the side of the mountains, old shacks stared down on the town like skulls - empty and lifeless. About the only sign of life was an occasional cat or hapless dog that belonged to one of the old-timers. That which had once been a prosperous community was now a ghost-town. It was said to be the fault of one of the miners who boasted, "There is more gold here than in heaven! This is the Glory hole!"

Suddenly there was no more gold!

By William C. Highsmith - November 27, 2013