The sky seemed forever foreboding, even in the new town. Candi knew her heart was too far sunk to pursue her calling at the moment. She had to find someone else to confide in - someone local. Rumors abounded of a church nearby that was going through significant changes in its structure. Curious, Candi stopped by to investigate.



She found herself standing before what looked more like a puzzling house of mirrors. The entire front of the building was a mirror sculpture! But why? Where was the entrance? The last thing she wanted was to see more of her own misery staring back at her.



This town she was in - Viron - seemed to be filled with marvels. There was a glass mansion near this church as well. She didn't expect downtown Dirbine would be quite as pleasant as this budding college town.



She gazed inside—very quiet! Was anybody there at all? She wondered...maybe she should just leave. But what if somebody were inside?



Just as she turned around and was ready to leave, a man popped out of the building. Candi wasted little time turning around...



The man bore a curious appearance. He was obviously the minister, given his clothing. Yet, he appeared to be youthful and lively, in spite clearly being an elderly man.*

Candi: "I was just beginning to think nobody was home! So...you must be Wilbur Brocklyn?"

Wilbur: "Indeed, I am. Sent here to annoy the old ladies who drive away young things like yourself. And who are you?"

*This is an allusion to the description of the character of Evangelist in John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. The character of Wilbur was intended originally to be a parody of Morgan Freeman playing God in Bruce Almighty.



Candi: "I'm Candi...er...Flippo. Well...technically. I go by Stevens on the papers...because..."

Wilbur: "It's okay! I know you look like a child of the illustrious Stan and Shalia! I've heard there's been a lot of tragedy in your family lately."



Candi: "Actually...today is my day to tour the town. I was wondering...since I came here for a tour of this place, could we look inside?"

Wilbur: "I'd very much appreciate that!"



Candi: "Interesting architecture. I'm not sure how many members you can attract this way though."

Wilbur: "This place has never been interested in winning masses merely for the sake of winning masses. It's been all about defending the integrity and infallibility of scripture from the slanderers and their false 'pre-Bible' histories; as well as compelling the insiders to think deeper about what they really believe and what that really means.

All souls won have to be won for a good cause, even if that means trying out risky ideas. So far, there haven't been too many problems.

Though, we did one time have to deal with an angry chat board user. All I did is remind him of God's original definition of marriage, not our modern world's convenient redefinitions; and he went crazy. I guess the day has truly come, when men cannot tolerate sound doctrine anymore. What a pity."**

Candi: "I like the hallway here...though it is a tad claustrophobic."

Wilbur: (smiling) "Well...you know what it says...narrow is the path..."

Candi: "True. I admire your sense of humor."

**2 Timothy 4:3



Candi walked into the sanctuary to find a scene that she was surprised to find so predictable. What was the meaning of this architectural paradox?

Candi: "Dark, but beautiful. I don't get it; the outside is so weird, why's the inside so...normal?"

Wilbur: "The architect of this building had a purpose; just as the Greatest Architect does for our lives. Nobody said we had to fully understand either for truth to be as it is.

The mirrors outside, Candi, make it hard for those who don't purposefully look for the entrance to find it. Likewise, the Law shows us where we err, and why the truth evades us so easily. The Law as a Mirror is there for self-reflection - quite literally in the case of this building."



Candi: "Obviously, I'm no exception. And the glass roof?"

Wilbur: "When we think we're on top of things because of pride, God sees right through us."

Candi: "Comforting...I think."



Candi: "I suppose the coloring of the indoors here has a meaning too?"

Wilbur: "Not intentionally, but you're not the first to ascribe it a meaning. The beauty in the lights, the sharp contrast with the dark red hues...yes. Volition Dilemma. And for it...death becomes necessary for life to prevail. A paradox! The colors inside here were actually picked because they were cheap and went well together. We spent too much money on the outside to get too elaborate indoors."



Candi: "And yet...it brings more comfort to me than the grandeur I've seen in Gerosha's churches."

Wilbur: Consequential fallout of Volition Dilemma...the Law of Irony. And yet, even more paradoxical...is that these forces are not entirely blind."



Wilbur: "So then, Candi...what is driving you most right now?"

Candi: "Driving, or troubling?"

Wilbur: "Either works. Let's start with driving."

Candi: "I would have moved here anyway. I've decided to go to Viron. They threw me into Criminal Justice, but I said I wanted to go into Forensic Investigation. They told me it'd be a few weeks before I could get a program switch to correct the problem."

Wilbur: "Solving murders. Sounds interesting. Why such a field?"



Candi: "I've lost a lot of friends and family growing up...at least one of them to a murder. I want to fight back against those who've left me with so little! I may have a quite a bit of money...but I'd rather have someone who takes care of me!"



Wilbur: "A bit vindictive, are we not?"

Candi: "I was prophesied by some Meethlite as being their downfall. They are all paranoid that I'm going to actually do it. If I do decide to bring down Duke Arfaas' criminal empire...then I have to find some way to make that happen! I've had to live for years in the shadow of these expectations...from family members I hardly even know!"

Wilbur: "Nearby Dirbine is crawling with Meethlite sympathizers. Some say, they're paying the police to ignore the Meethlites' crimes! Some even say that the chief...Merle...is on their payroll! I don't know if vigilantism is the field you want...but realize: you have a tremendous sense of responsibility!"



Candi: "My sister was murdered...just a few weeks ago! Another sister got married. A third fled, just as I have. My brothers have just about disowned me. I have nobody now."



Wilbur: "What is the plan from above? I believe that is your real question. I wish I myself could give you the answer. But surely, you can't blame yourself for what happened!

We don't choose those who hate us from birth. Mary and Joseph didn't choose to be hated by Herod. I didn't choose the education board members that have produced so many hard-left rabids that shout death threats at this congregation. But we have all chosen to accept the responsibility our situations have brought on us!"



Candi: "Erin didn't even get the luxury of a funeral! We couldn't afford to stack up her remaining loved ones like dominoes for an impending bloodbath!"

Wilbur: "It is not just your sister that you miss. I sense hesitation in your voice."



Candi: "My...boyfriend..."

Wilbur: "What happened?"

Candi: (fighting back tears) "He...was enlisted in the Phaelon-Metheel War. His ship was...attacked. All aboard are rumored dead!"

Wilbur: "Poor thing!"

Candi: "Worse...I offered myself to him...he told me to protect that."

Wilbur: "He'd rather you keep your honor...a true gentleman!"

Candi: "I...I wanted to have his child, so that the world would never be completely without him."

Wilbur: "An understandable motive leading in the wrong direction, I suppose. Your time to have children will come. It is not now. Deep inside, you realize that."