The Inner Workings of an Altered Mind: The Journey of Peace by AlteredMind

Hey everyone, some of you may have already seen the prologue to my novel, The Journey of Peace, but I just wanted to take a little bit of time out to explain a bit of the story to put it all into perspective. For those who are first time visitors I’d like to extend a warm welcome out to you for taking the time to read this and for those who have been following me and sharing in the ups and downs with me thus far I’d like to say thank you very, very much. It means a lot to me. =) I’m currently in the process of writing a Christian High Fantasy Novel that is going to be written in poetry. The idea originally came to me in a dream several years before I came to Christ but didn’t actually become anything serious until I tried to write the testimony of how I came to know Jesus Christ. This is what came out. The Journey of Peace takes place in a world originally made entirely of Light. It’s citizens lived and worshipped their God and their God loved and cared from them deeply. However, over time the attitudes of the beings of Light began to darken. Pessimism and negativity crept slowly across the land and were subtly infecting the denizens of the World of Light. But the main character, Peace, remained positive throughout this plague. So in his naivety he ventured across the world, without a care as to what he may possibly find. Though perhaps it was not a matter of what he would find, more a matter of what would find him. The body of Peace had the Spirit of War forced into it by a being known of by none save the God of all creation, the Spirit of Chaos. And Thus, the body of Peace, denizen of the World of Light became the first to succumb to Darkness, the first creature of Darkness. The Spirits of Peace and War fought day and night for control of Peace’s body but sadly War’s power was much too great for Peace to handle and so War claimed control over his body and began to corrupt the land and corrupt it’s people while the Spirit of Peace could do nothing but watch in defeat. When all seemed bleak and Darkness seemed at the pinnacle of triumph, God Almighty took the Spirit of Peace and gave him a new body. Peace was born again. But War had plans of his own, he began amassing an army of Darkness for his Lord, the Spirit of Chaos, and waged a 300 year war against the World of Light, and almost won. But just before the forces of Darkness could claim dominance over the world of Light, God ripped apart the barriers of Light and Dark, ripped the very world in half. The Breaking of the World as they called it. Creating two worlds, Dark and Light. This event marked the end of an era and the beginning of a time of Peace, yet set the stage for the greatest trials the World of Light will ever know. The Journey of Peace takes place 700 years after the Breaking of the World and follows Peace’s journey through the World of Light and worlds beyond.. as he uncovers the truth about the Seven Deadly Sins that supposedly walk the World of Light, the Armour of God, the Valley of the Shadow of Death, Purity, War, Chaos, Faith, Hope, Love and so much more. Keep your eyes out for chapter one, coming soon! For now, here’s the prologue! (Original link at the top of this entry) Take care guys! God bless you all!

Edit: After some thought and prayer I have decided to add a little more information on how this is relevant to my life. I began one night attempting to write the story of how I came to Christ and my prologue was the end result. So I began to write this novel, which will be the first of three (so far). My real name is Binh Nguyen, Binh being Vietnamese for Peace. My prologue was originally meant to describe the pains and struggles I faced the years before I came to Christ, afflicted with schizophrenia for the most part of my adolescent years and some beyond. It was only after I found God (or perhaps it was God who found me?) that I was completely freed from the enemies that once controlled me. That day was July the 10th of 2010, I was born again. I was given a fresh start and a chance to do things right. A chance to live the sort of life I once thought impossible. For the years that preceded my fateful meeting with Christ I was responsible for the physical, emotional and psychological pain and suffering of many, many people. I was involved in drugs on many different levels, I intentionally hurt and tricked many people who trusted me and I have done many more things of which I am ashamed of. But there is hope. And that hope is found in Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

-Altered Mind

“The paths that led me to this point were long and winding. They were filled with sorrow and agony, failure and treachery, loss and hopelessness, fear and anger, death and hate.

My name is Peace, but my entire life I have never had the privilege of experiencing it. For I have lived a life of war for as long as my simple mortal mind can recall. War against fellowship, war against knowledge and understanding, war against kindness and joy, war against love, peace and purity. War against everything that was righteous, true and just. War against myself.

For there once was a time in a life long past in which I used to believe that all roads led to the same destination. I was young. I was naive. And I was completely oblivious to the fact that I lived in a world of suffering, sin and death. Negativity dripped off all I met but a positive frame of mind is what I kept. I had faith. So, foolish me, I walked down the darkest road I could see. With not a single care, not a single worry. Unsure of what I’d find. But faith in my strength, my mind. Faith in love, my heart, this world and it’s grand design. I was wrong. And so, the downward spiral began. I was merely a pawn in a master plan. I fell from grace, so hard, so fast. My entire world shattered, like shards of glass. I was broken. Beyond repair. I lived an eternity of hate and despair.

But why Peace? Enlighten me, please. Opposites attract or so it seems. Perhaps fear of Light brought Darkness nigh or perhaps fear of Darkness led to Light’s demise. It was both.

Though truly, the worst way to die. Watching your entire world crumble before your very eyes. And thus, Peace turned to Fear, Fear turned to Sorrow, Sorrow turned to Agony, Agony turned to Despair. Despair turned to Anger, Anger turned to Hate. And then, there was only War.

And War did rage, the fires inside burned and scathed. There was a voice. Sinister and dark. It penetrated my mind, corrupted my soul. Filled me with thoughts never before would I have dared to know. It was evil. But then, so was I. It’s command was my will, my will no longer mine. I was trapped. In a body not mine. I watched this being, through weary eyes, live a life any righteous soul would truly despise. I was torn. And it went on and on. No measure of time could do justice or convey how long I was it’s pawn.

But there was a light. Seemingly miles away. Through pure strength of will I took a step each day. It was a battle. And I wept and bled. I fought an enemy that was inside my head. But I don’t surrender. So woe to you. The only possible outcome was for me to destroy you. And I shall.

Not that life, but the next. For through the grace of the God that found me, I was born again.

Behold, This is the story of Peace."

-The Spirit of Peace
[Exact date unknown]
Estimated: 1300 B.B.
(Before the Breaking of the World)