Picture a ship, Y.S.S. (Your Soul’s Ship) Bitterness, filled with pirates and cutthroats, pulling into a harbor (The Harbor of the Grace of God). It is tied up to a pier, and the crew is about to go on shore leave. The crew plan to terrorize the inhabitants of this place.
Look at the crew as they leave the ship. Pride swaggers down the gangway. Pride is always first. He always draws attention to himself and never backs down from a fight, whether he is right or wrong. Things always have to be done his way or not at all. And he will fight with anyone who opposes him. He is loud and boastful and eternally striving to prove his point, in order to get others to follow him. He used to be the captain of this ship, and never thought his demotion was fair. He is subversive, and struggles to regain control, so he can take the ship wherever he wants.
The next off the ship walks with a limp, and is covered with scars and wounds. He is a very close companion to Pride. You can hear him muttering to himself and to anyone else who will listen. He is a pitiable character, and in fact, his name is Self-Pity. He stays very close to Pride, even though Pride has led him into a lot of scrapes and fights, and Self-Pity always gets hurt. He makes a lot of sniveling noises, and never hesitates to let others know how tough his lot in life is, or to show off his scars. The thing is, most of the scars never heal because Self-Pity continually picks at them and opens them up anew.
Self-Pity has no real position in the crew of Y.S.S. Bitterness, but goes around with his two side-kicks, Murmuring and Complaining, bending the ears of those foolish enough to ask how he’s doing. In fact, Murmuring and Complaining are the next two down the gangway. They stick close to Self-Pity, knowing that if he were ever fired, they would be out of a job as well. You can hear their incessant chatter as they disembark, and you know that the dark little rain cloud hovering over them will follow them into the town. Quite a crew: Pride, Self-Pity, Murmuring, and Complaining; but really this is only the foretaste of that which is yet to come.
There is a space before the next two characters begin their descent down the gangway. The reason is obvious when you see their countenances. Anger and Hatred are good buddies; but only with each other. They can recount every bad thing that has ever happened to them, and the more they think on these things, the madder they get. They are uptight, and don’t care who knows. Everybody better stay out of their way; for in their thinking, they have been pushed far enough. And they won’t take it any more. They lash out even during their calmer moments. And they are forever on guard, perceiving every action from any other as hostile. They are ready to take revenge, and fighting fair is not something they do very well.
After awhile, a hulking, giant-like person steps to the edge of the gangway. The ship actually leans toward whatever side he is on. This is the Captain of the Y.S.S. Bitterness. A scowl distorts the features of his face. The boards groan beneath his feet, afraid they might break under his weight. Captain Grudge is coming ashore. (This is what is known as harboring a grudge.)
The crew are all waiting for Captain Grudge; something is wrong. The Harbor Master is speaking to them in a calm voice, but one with definite authority. The ship, Y.S.S. Bitterness is not being granted access into this harbor at this time. The Harbor Master introduces Himself. Forgiveness is His name. His police, the shore patrol, Love, Joy, Peace, Long-Suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness and Temperance are with Him. They surround the crew of Y.S.S. Bitterness to make sure that Forgiveness’ orders are carried out.
Pride tries to speak, but Meekness points his sword at Pride’s throat, and Pride is broken. Self-Pity tries to tell of all the wrongs done him, but Faith stares him down. Then as if at a signal, Captain Grudge turns and lumbers back up the gangway. Anger and Hatred threaten, but in the end they are silenced by Peace. They follow Captain Grudge, with the rest of the motley crew slowly trailing behind.
The ship hoists its sails and Y.S.S. Bitterness leaves the Harbor of the Grace of God. The village is once again safe and returns to expressing praise and worship to the Living God.
