"Northern Star!"
23 The crowd again went wild with cheering and applause. Morn got
second place, the other boy, third. The officials were about to award
their medals when a Messenger ran up and spoke to them. Then one of the
Officials announced proudly, "Ladies and gentlemen! The Lord God,
Himself, will present the awards!"
24 A murmur rose as The Lord God and his Guards flew down from his box.
He presented the silver and the gold medals first, then took the one
made of gold and silver, and hung it about North's neck. "To one of our
bravest and best. Long life and glory!" The crowd roared with approval, and the
contestants marched from the field.
25 "I hope you don't intend to do that EVERY year" remarked Morn, "It
isn't fair!" Those around him laughed, but they also looked worried.
26 That night a tired North sat in his kitchen. Pleasure seemed to beam
from his mother's eyes, but his father looked worried. "My son," he
began, "today you have done great things, far beyond my expectations.
It is obvious you are destined to do far greater things. For God has
shined His blessings on you. A father could be no prouder! You took
great risks and you won. But you could have just as easily lost! Be
careful, my son!"
27 North looked at his father and replied "I was ready, father, to
accept the consequences of defeat as much as I was ready to accept the
glories of victory. One must be, when one takes chances, must he not?"
28 "Stand, my son," commanded the elder. Rising and reaching out, he
carefully broke the bottom-most bar from his son's Church Symbol, and
taking it to the livingroom, slid it into the appropriate place under
North's picture. "I have a feeling," he commented, "that I should, in
reality, remove several more. For my son is wise beyond his years- I
hope not too wise for his own good!"
29 In the Palace of The Lord God, Morn's Father took