Over the next several weeks you will have the chance to read a parable I have written. The idea came from listening to a Josh Turner song called Long Black Train. I had heard this song a million times before I began writing this story.
It is the first time I have written and published a story or parable like this one. I hope you enjoy it! Feel free to share the link with your friends on any social media platform or email!
I’d heard stories and songs. Glorious stories and songs of a train so beautiful, with the sweetest whistle and the smoothest ride. Everyone I came in contact with had only positive words to speak of this beauty of a train. I determined I must find out what all the hype was about for myself. My only option was to find out for myself how amazing this train actually was.
The day came shortly after I had come to this decision when the train pulled into town. To my surprise and pleasure, the beauty of the train surpassed what I had heard described. The long black train was the longest I had ever seen; countless pleasures took place on board, and I might as well have been riding on the clouds.
My first trip was just a short trip, a test ride if you will, to the town a few miles down the tracks. As I exited, the engineer smiled at me and said “see you again soon.” I smiled back and said “I’ll be waiting.”
The next weeks puttered along as I waited for the train to return to the depot. Finally, that sweet whistle rang in my ears again. No-one could deny what train was rolling down the tracks my way. Sure enough the long black train pulled into the depot. Excitedly I once again boarded the train.
This time I began to notice how many others were on the train. I went from car to car seeing what pleasures they had to offer. Some cars served alcohol, others had drugs, and still others had prostitutes. Shocked, I was appalled to see such scandalous activities taking place in plain view of everyone, yet no one else seemed to be in shock. I was sickened by what I was witnessing, disturbed by what I was exposing myself to, so I de-boarded at the next stop. The engineer had a smirk on his face as he said “I’ll be back for you soon.” That smirk troubled me because his eyes didn’t seem so inviting at the end of this trip. I just walked off disgusted with myself and all the others who had promoted this train.
Weeks turned into months as I tried to put that experience behind me, but it never did quite leave the back of my mind. The enticement of all the pleasure I had not been able to enjoy on the train haunted me. So when I heard the sweet whistle it was as if I had no control of my body and will. I boarded the train.