Artist Statement:

Gulliver’s Travels is about a man who has a lot to learn. He travels around to fantastical lands where he learns about people, humanity, and politics. He learns about who he is and who he wants to become by viewing these different people. Some of the people are kind and others are not; some of the people are smart and intellectual, other people are ignorant and dumb. All of these factors affect how they act, interact, and create a law system. I wanted to do something like that, but on a much smaller scale. I also want to replace politics with religion, so that it becomes about the interaction of people, humanity, and religion.

To do this I have my character explore three different lands: one of Christianity, one of Jewry, and one of Islam. These are not all religions; there are thousands and thousands of those.  But what I would claim is that these are the religions that struggle the most with each other in the United States right now. That is what I’ve seen at least, and it bothers me to no end.  I am a proponent of learning, of asking before assuming, and of knowledge over ignorance. I want to tell a story of a man who knows nothing and comes to realize he’s missing everything.

That is the story I tried to tell. I am Christian, and I don’t know everything, but I tried to be as fair as I can. I love other religions and I am always eager to know more. I want to share my eagerness with everyone around me. There is no need for all the fighting between us. We should be reveling in all of the beauty and devotion to God instead. I used my character as an example of who the reader could be. The reader could talk to more people, they could ask more questions. The world of apathy and coldness that I referenced is how I see this world of technology we live in. I can walk around and make eye contact with no one. Either they are on their phone or tablet, or listening to their ipods. They have their own cold world with no need for interaction. How much are they missing by shutting everyone off. I, myself, try to not do this to myself. It’s hard to reach out, but it is worth it in the end.

My story needs work, so if you would like to comment with critiques, I would really appreciate it. I don’t want to write anything that unintentionally offends someone. The point here is to be welcoming to join together under the banner of humanity. Will you join me?

Aaron Gulliver and his Religious Travels

By Abby Grout

Aaron lives in a gray, bland land. The people there don’t believe in much of anything outside of their own heads and experiences. They are rough and rowdy, giving little thought to others since they are just figments of their self-created perception. A few are prone to a nice act or a gentle tone, but they are few and far between and often called loonies.

Aaron is the same as the rest of them: selfish, angst ridden, and often filled with distraction and dismay.

When he lies in his bed late at night, his mind fills with questions that he is normally able to push aside and ignore during the day. Is this all there is? Do I matter? Are we right to act the way we do? The next morning he shakes off these thoughts like a dog shakes off water, an ingrained reaction, no thought needed. One impulse that he can never shake is his desire to travel.

The thing is, where Aaron lives, people don’t really travel, there is no good reason to do it. They can live adequately where they are and there are rumors about what it is like outside, and from what I’ve heard it’s full of crazy people. Cuckoos freely walk through the streets.

The best Aaron can do is change apartments every few months, but he’s getting antsy. Aaron is the grandson of Lemuel Gulliver, a world-renowned traveler, so it is no surprise that he suffers from this inane desire.

We pick up in his story, the day that Aaron Gulliver can take it no longer, the day that started his journey into lands that believe.

            He starts out of town with little more than a pack on his back and walking stick in hand. No one notices his departure or misses his presence. He hikes through the woods for a few days. He has never wandered this far before and quickly becomes weary of traveling by foot. He continues on. He hears a creaking behind him as he walks and a mule pulled cart wobbles up the path. Aaron stops the cart and asks for a ride. To his astonishment, the driver readily agrees and scoots over to give him room.

            As soon as he sits down, his cramped weary body over-whelms him, and he falls to sleep regardless of the creaking cart. When he wakes up, he stretches hitting the driver next to him in the process. He slumps back down in his seat. The driver, a cute old man with a mustache and a grin, turns to him.

“Have you been saved?” he asks in a bubbly voice.

Jerking his back in shock, Aaron replies, “What are you talking about? By who? What do I need to be saved from?”

“Hmmm, you’re not from around here are you?”

“No I’m not. Where am I by the way?”

“You are in the outskirts of a Christian country. When I ask you if you’ve been saved, I’m asking if you have taken Jesus Christ as your Savior.”

            Aaron sits silently. He doesn’t like to talk very much, and could go for days without talking back home. This place seems to be different, and he doesn’t know how to feel about it.

“You look confused stranger. Oh and I’m David, by the way.”

“My name’s Aaron.”

“Aaron! That’s a great name; that’s the name of Moses’ older brother.”

“Who is Moses?”

“Moses is one of the greatest prophets of God described in the holy book – the Bible.” He paused. “You do know who God is don’t you?”

“Heard of him, but I’ve never known anyone who actually believed in him.”

“Well, now you have. Come on, it’s Sunday, the Sabbath, I’ll take you to the church service later tonight. Then you will know more.”

            Aaron sat silently in the cart for the last few miles. There is something sincere about this man that made him seem somewhat less than crazy, but how could that be? He hadn’t talked that much in such a long time, and somehow it felt right. Weird. There must be something in the air.

            They pull up to a little cottage, and a cute plump little lady came bustling out the door twittering about Jenny and Clark and the mischief they’d caused. Then she sees the visitor and rushs back inside to put another place at the table. Jenny and Clark chase after the dog in the yard. Aaron smiles to himself a little. Then he catches himself, and rearranges his face to a more emotionless expression.

            Mother Susan finishes the last preparations for dinner, and everyone sits down. Aaron jerks his hand back when he feels someone touch it.

“We hold hands when we pray, dear.” Said Susan.

“Oh, right.”

            He looks at little Jenny next to him, and takes her small hand in his. He sits stiffly and listens to the family’s humble prayer. He had never heard someone say such kind words.

            Later that night he gets into the cart with the entire family. It creaks and groans from the load but continues down the path. Soon, they reach a city. All around, people leave their homes and walk together towards the center of the city. The cart stops and everyone gets out. David drives it away to park it, and the rest of the family continues this pilgrimage. Eventually they reach a large chapel and walk in.

            They find a seat in the middle, and save some space for David. Aaron looks forward and sees an altar. Behind this altar is a statue of a man nailed to cross and looking up as if there was someone there. Aaron turned to Jenny.

“Who is he?”

“That’s Jesus.”

“Who is Jesus?”

“Jesus is the savior. He died for us.”

“Why did he have to die for us?”

“Because we are imperfect. Because we trip our brothers and step on the dog’s tail.”

Is this true? Could all of the apathy he had known his entire life be wrong, so wrong that a man had to die solely for those mistakes? He knows little about this Jesus, but he feels ashamed at the implications and possibilities. He bows his head in his guilt.

Then everyone begins to sing. It sweeps through the entire group, the entire congregation. Aaron listens to the words, and feels the companionship of his fellow human family. He has never felt so many feelings before, like a fire inside his chest. These people aren’t crazy. They had found love and built a beautiful community with it.

Later that night he bids the family farewell.

“Where will you go?” asks Jenny.

He points the direction with which he began his journey. “On.”

Susan quickly responds, “You can’t go that way. Those are not our lands; those people do not have Christian values. And I’ve heard they are quite greedy and manipulative.”

“I must.”

            And with that, he’s off. He walks through valleys and fields, through hills and streams, until he meets an injured man hobbling down the road almost a week later. Normally he would’ve walked by this man with no second glance, but after recent events he decides to stop. He takes the man’s arm and puts it around his neck.

“I’m Aaron.”

“Thank God.  I knew he would send someone to aid me, and it seems he has sent Moses’ brother. Quick we must hurry to my home. It is nearly Shabbat and we must not be late.”

“Is it Sunday already? I must’ve miscounted the days.”

“No it’s not Sunday. It’s Friday.”

“Wait. Aren’t you Christian? You know Moses and you have a Sabbath day.”

“No, I am Jewish. We also believe in Moses and many of the same ancient prophets, but we are very different. We have Shabbat, not Sabbath, from Friday night to Saturday night. Come and you’ll learn.”

            They arrive at a small town and wander through until they reach the man’s, Zachary’s house. Aliya, his wife, comes rushing out to help him in.

“I thought you were going to be late for sure. What happened to you!?”

“Please, Aliya. Let’s not bore our guest. We must finish preparing for Shabbat.”

            With that they set to work. Aliya had already cleaned the home, so they bath themselves and have Aaron take a bath. Aliya baths baby Reuben, and they all dress in their finest clothes. Aliya lights two candles and recites a blessing.

“What are the candles for,’ asks Aaron.

“They represent two commandments: zakhor and shamor. That is to remember and to observe. We must remember and commemorate the creation of this world and commemorate our families being freed from slavery in Egypt. The great Moses was the one who lead our people to freedom.”

“You make it sound like it wasn’t that long ago, but wasn’t it ages ago?”

“It was a long time ago, but we try to remind ourselves frequently. This helps us to be truly grateful for the blessing that it was. To observe Shabbat, the other commandment, we refrain from work of any kind.”

“What does that do?”

“It sanctifies the day as a day for God.”

            The three of them and the baby go to the evening services, Kabbalat Shabbat. The Rabbi reads 6 beautiful Psalms corresponding to the 6 days of creation and then a special psalm of the Shabbat. Then the people begin to sing. Aaron can’t understand much of anything because they are speaking a different language, Aliya called it Hebrew. Regardless, it is peaceful and beautiful.

            Once they arrive back home, they eat dinner. Aaron waits with more questions to ask.

“Tradition and the history of your people are important aren’t they?”

“They are the most important.” Replies Zachary. “We would be nothing without our ancestors and without God’s blessings to them and to us.”

“Why do the Christians call you greedy?”

“We care not only about our ancestors but about future generations. We often push our children towards lucrative careers in medicine and banking. Sometimes we are misjudged because of this. But like any principle, sometimes we take it too far, creating people who care about money far more than they should.”

“Where I’m from, people care little for each other, and there is not history or tradition.”

“How do they know who they are if they don’t know where they come from?” wonders Zachary.

“They don’t.” replies Aaron.

            Aaron stays through the rest of Shabbat and leaves the next day.

            Zachary warns him before he leaves. “Make sure to watch your back. I’ve heard the people in those lands can be quite violent to people who don’t believe the same as they do.”

            Aaron keeps that in mind, and wanders through the wilderness. At times it is lush and green with many streams and animals, but then there would be long stretches of rocky dry desert. Aaron fills up on water as much as he can to survive the stretches of desert. One is too long for him, and he falls to the ground. He looks up and sees a hooded figure coming towards him. At first he assumes it is a hallucinogen, but as it comes closer he realizes it is a man. He cringes away in fear, thinking of his friend’s words. The man stops to speak.

“Please don’t be afraid my friend. My name is Hamzah Mansoura, and you need help. What is your name?”

“Aaron.”

“Come Aaron, let’s leave this wasteland.”

            Aaron has no choice. Hamzah helps Aaron, like Aaron helped Zachary. They walk together and escape death and dehydration. They arrive at a home very similar in build and simplicity to David’s cottage. Once inside, Aaron collapses into a bed and blacks out.

            He awakes to a cold towel being pressed to his forehead by gentle hands. He isn’t sure where he was.

“Where am I?” He asks as he tries to sit up quickly.

            The other gentle, but now firm hand pushes him back down.

“I’m Reem, Hamzah’s wife. He brought you here yesterday after finding you in the desert.”

“Oh.”

“Hamzah will be coming in soon. If you feel strong enough, you may get up.”

            Aaron lays there and collects his wits about him. He looks around and sees a beautiful drawing on the wall.

“What is that?”

“That is a quote from the Quran. It says: ‘Allah is all in all. Allah sees you, and is with you, wherever you are, whatever you do.” Reem replied.

“Who is Allah, and what is the Quran?”

“Allah is the only God, and the Quran is a collection of revelations received by his prophet Muhammad.”

“Is that the same God as the Christian or Jewish God?”

“Depends on who you ask. Some say He is one and the same, others disagree.”

            Then the door opens, and Hamzah walks in, sweaty from the mornings work. He goes to the sink and fills a basin. He washes his hands, face, arms and feet in the water. His wife follows after him. Then they pull out small rugs and lay them on the ground. They begin to pray with repetitious and rhythmic motions. Aaron watches on eagerly. When they are finished he speaks again.

“Is today your Sabbath or Shabbat? When I stayed with a Jewish family they washed before their holy day.”

“No it is not the Sabbath or Shabbat.” Answers Hamzah, “We, Muslims, are neither Christian nor Jew. Today is a normal day. We pray 5 times a day and wash before we do so. We must be purified before praying to Allah.”

            Aaron suddenly realizes he hasn’t eaten in days as his stomach loudly grumbles. He looks up sheepishly.

“Don’t worry, it will be sunset soon.” Says Reem.

“Why sunset?”

“There are five pillars to Islam. You’ve already discovered one of them: Salat or daily prayer. Another is Sawm. This means fasting. During one month every year, the month of Ramadan, we refrain from eating from dawn until dusk.”

“What are the others?”

“Shahadah is declaring that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet. Zakat is giving a percent of your yearling increase as charity to the poor and needy, and last is Hajj. Hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca, the holy land, that Muslims are advised to do at least once in their life if they are able.”

            Aaron thinks to himself. These people seem to have many traditions just like the Jews, they have a holy book, and they must declare their allegiance just like the Christians who accept Jesus as their Savior.

Aaron speaks up again. “You don’t seem that different from the Christians and the Jews. I mean there is different terminology between the different beliefs, but all of you build these religious communities that strive together to serve each other and your God. “

“Yes, I suppose that’s true.”

“Then why are you all so separated. Why do they think you are dangerous?”

“Even though the differences are small, some people are very talented at making them appear as great chasms of differences. This separates the different peoples until they no long see the others as people. Instead, they are heretics or infidels. It is shaytan’s greatest weapon. You may know him by another name, Satan the great deceiver.”

            By that time, night has fallen and they conclude their conversation. They eat dinner hungrily and quietly. Aaron has never had so much to think about in his entire life. He was once empty and life was easy to understand. Now he is full, full of joy and complexities, knowledge and confusion. He thinks of home. He thinks of those he knew, and all they didn’t know.

            He would go back. He’d tell them of his journey and what he had learned. They would be stubborn, but he would tell them about community, tradition, and devotion. He would tell them of Moses, Jesus, and Allah. They may not listen right away, but he would be persistent; he’s one of them and as stubborn as they are. He could not let these truths lie dormant. Truths are meant to be sought after from every possible source. Once they are found, they must be shared.