Of Love and Wealth

This is a story of a time before the creation of Adam and Eve, before the earth had been formed from its fiery origins. It goes back to an event that occurred when galaxies were absent, when hydrogen atoms, which come together to form stars, were yet to come into existence. It was a time when even the laws of the universe had not been laid down by its creator. This, therefore, is a story that begins at the inception of Creation, and hence the inception of time itself.

    Back then, the universe used to be an enormous, black void, lit only by points of light that formed something like a sea of light. Some of these pinpricks of light danced about through space, while some stayed stationary. They were the first signs of Creation.

 

    By his omnipotence, God commanded all the points of light to come together. And come together they did, condensing more and more into a definite shape, emitting an intense glow that no human eye could ever tolerated.

    Finally the transformation ceased, and a new being had come to exist. God said to him, ‘I name you Light.’

    But after this extraordinary transition, the vast, dark emptiness that had surrounded the light was left behind. So God turned his attention to it, and moulded it into a recognizable shape.

    And so a second being was born. God said to him, ‘I name you Darkness.’

    Thus Light and Darkness, the two opposite poles of the universe, were created. God said to them, ‘You two are equals and opposites. You two are antithetical, and yet complementary, to each other. You will represent two aspects of the same world, the world which I shall create. Whatever I create from now on, you shall divide equally amongst yourselves.’

    Light and Darkness responded obediently, and God set to work again. Within an immeasurably small length of time, he brought into existence two new beings, Love and Wealth. Unlike the first two, they had not been fashioned from observable objects, but had been conjured out of nowhere.

    God said to the newcomers, ‘You two are neither equals, nor opposites, but you form part of the world I have begun to create. You will have your antitheses, in due time. They will be called Hatred and Poverty.’

    Wealth and Love were attracted to the glow of Light, and repulsed by the gloom of Darkness. They both expressed their desire to join Light. To this, Darkness protested strongly, reminding them that he was to have an equal share.

    ‘I am the better and more powerful one,’ said Wealth. ‘The weaker and unworthy Love can go to you, Darkness.’

    The innocent Love heard the insult, but did not retort. She simply said, ‘You are not right in saying that you are better, Wealth.’

    ‘You dare contradict me?’ Wealth raged. Fueled by his hubris, anger rose in him. He soon thrust himself into a furious battle with Love.

    Wealth was indeed powerful, but Love was not utterly powerless. Her power, however, was a quiet strength which grew gradually over time, and could eventually make her mightier than anything else. Wealth attacked swiftly and ruthlessly, smashing Love with his brutal, unforgiving strength. Defeated and mortally wounded, Love was still alive. After all, she could not die. With the beginning of Creation, God had promulgated his laws, and those laws proscribed her death.

    As the triumphant Wealth gloated over his victory, Love directed her words at him. ‘Wealth, you have won. But remember, you cannot win every battle. Also remember, that many of your victories in the future will be because of me. People will endeavor to find me in you, but of course they will fail, and you will feed on their souls.’

    Thus Love placed her curse on Wealth. But it was a curse that Wealth accepted with joy, for he was just as avaricious as the human beings that would be his slaves in the future. ‘Yes!’ he said gleefully. ‘More souls for me to conquer, on your account.’

    And so, for all eternity, people were doomed to the illusion that wealth is the key to love.