40
B. The Christian Values Revealed in The Fifth Mountain
1. Love
Through the character of the widow in Akbar, Elijah learns how to love someone. At the very first time, Elijah admires the widow who reminds him to
Queen Jezebel. In fact both of them are from the same country, Lebanon. The widow smiled, her eyes shone, and he saw for the first time that she was
beautiful. She was at least ten years older than he, but at that moment he felt great tenderness for her. He was no accustomed to such sentiments, and he
was filled with fear; he remembered Jezebel’s eyes, and the wish he had made upon leaving Ahab’s palace – to marry a woman from Lebanon. 81-
82
Although he feels strange or awkward to confess it, Elijah perceives that he has never felt like this before, the physical union like sitting side to side with a
woman is such a new experience for him, which is proposed by Fromm that it is a kind of love that grows since someone experiences the separateness of the other
person primarily as physical separateness. He was enjoying at this woman’s side. Love could be a more frightening
experience than standing before Ahab’s soldier with an arrow aimed at his heart; if the arrow had struck him, he would be dead - and the rest was up to
God. But if love struck him, he alone would have to take responsibility for the consequences. 83
For the entire of his life, Elijah dreams to win a woman’s heart. Unfortunately, when God permits to have that feeling, Elijah does not know what
to do. Perceiving this novel experience, Elijah is “suffering”. “I should so like to tell her that,” he thought. “But I don’t know how. It’s
easier to speak of the love of God. Elijah took another sip. She sensed that she had said something that displeased him, and she decided to change the
subject. “Did you climb the Fifth Mountain?” she asked. He nodded. 84
41 Bearing in his own minds, Elijah learns from others’ experience that when
he loves someone, it is just full of tragic experience. Elijah is torn apart when he has fallen in love with the widow and one day the Lord asks him to leave the city
of Akbar. What matters for him is the physical separateness with the widow and Elijah does not know how to handle it if it happens now.
History was filled with tragic example. And even had he no knowledge of sacred Scripture, he had the example of his friends, and of friends the
friends, lost in long nights of waiting and suffering and the feeling of being difficult for him to leave his city when the Lord commanded, and he would
be dead now. 86 Not only being afraid of the physical separateness, but Elijah is not also
daring to utter his feeling to the widow. Although there are some perfect moments to utter what he feels, Elijah tends to perceive that the widow refers to something
else. For a fraction of a second, he felt he could open his heart to her. But he
decided not to take the risk; she must surely be referring to something else. “Start doing something,” he said, changing the subject. “In that way, time
will be an ally, not an enemy. 91
Walking through the valley, Elijah thinks that he cannot give his love to the widow. The only thing he is able to do is asking to God how to erase that feeling
from his heart. Suddenly his personal guardian angel appeared and said that Lord will take the seed of hatred out of the human’s heart, but He is not willing to wipe
away the beautiful feeling of people’s love. The angel appeared. It was not the angel of the Lord, whom he had seen on
the mountain, but the one who watched over him, and to those voice he was accustomed. “The Lord heareth the prayers of the prayers of those who ask
to put aside hatred. But He is deaf to those who would flee from love 89
42 One night, when everyone in Akbar really feels the coming war, Elijah takes
the widow and her son to search for a safer place. In this difficult situation, Elijah decides to express his feeling to the widow as if everything will totally change
from now on. It will be a long journey, and we shall find no rest until I have done what He
has asked of me,” said Elijah, as if guessing her thoughts. “Still, your love will be my mainstay, and in the moments I grow weary in the battles in His
name, I can find repose in your arms. 146
The night before the attack happens, Elijah is not able to sleep and he decides to pray for the widow. He prays to the Lord because he truly cares about
her. Praying to the Lord is one of his ways to show that he concerns about the widow’s life.
In the love of a woman, I have discovered the love for all creatures, “he prayed silently. “ I need her. I know that the Lord will not forget that I am
one of His instruments, perhaps the weakest of those He has chosen. Help me, O Lord, because I must repose calmly amidst the battles. 152
The Assyrians soldiers attack the widow’s house. They burn it and get
Elijah. A neighbor cries that there is a woman caught in the fire in her own house. Elijah hears it, but he can only pray that Lord will save her. Having made a
terrible mistake, the Assyrian soldiers thought that the widow tried to hide the governor of Akbar. However, Elijah gathers his remaining energy to save the
widow. More than just a feeling, Elijah now feels that everything happened that night is related to his commitment as the God’s servant
His heart nevertheless bade him rise to his feet and go to the house where they lived. Elijah struggled with himself; at that moment, more than a
woman’s love was at stake – his entire life, his faith in the Lord’s designs, the departure from the city of his birth, the idea that he had a mission and
was capable of completing it. 162
43 In the end of her life, while the widow was dying of the burnt injuries,
Elijah collects his bravery and makes his confession that he is ready to accept her love. He does not want the widow to die, as the widow is the love of his life. The
widow is the first person who teaches Elijah how to love. This sudden separate definitely tears his heart out.
He continued to dig, and she repeated, “Go and find the body of my son. Please, do as I ask.” Elijah’s head fell against his chest, and he began
weeping softly. “I don’t know where he’s buried,” he said. Please don’t go; how I long to have you remain with me. I need you to teach me how to love;
my heart is ready now“165
Suffering the death of her that draws nearer, Elijah and the widow’s son are demanded to swear that they will not weep for the widow after she was taken
away and they must take care of each other. This is the oath: you two will not weep for me, and each will take care of
the other until the Lord allows each of you to follow his path. Don’t weep for me, for there is no reason to be sad. From this moment on, I am Akbar,
and the city is beautiful. 166-167
This tragic physical separateness really makes him down. He never thinks that everything should end up this way. Even, he has no power to save the one
who he really loves. God has encountered him with that widow in Akbar. He also asks Elijah to learn how to love a special person. Even so, he never forgets
his important mission to return to Israel and destroy Queen Jezebel. Lord knows that Elijah is always ready to go back there. When Elijah suffers from the
“imprisoning” love, God does not want to take it away from him. As the story goes, the City of Akbar is in ruins. When the widow whom
he loves gets burnt badly, God does not give any hands to save her.
44 Unexpectedly, she died in that tragic moment. Feeling so depressed, Elijah does
not admit the circumstance. He blames God and asks why this happens to him. Elijah always submits to His demands, but He treats him back unfairly. He
grows angry with God. He only knows that the more suffering the Lord gives to him, the hollower his life will be. From now on, he is reduced to ruins, fire, and
dust. 167-168 Elijah tries very hard to rebuild the ruined city of Akbar. That is one way
he can do to feel the widow closer. When he takes care of the city, he shows his respect and concerns to the widow and the other people in the city. Receiving such
great helps from other, slowly but sure they can rebuild the city and develop themselves after the tragedy. Elijah’s will and commitment to restore the city is
paid something worthwhile. When everything becomes normal again, he experiences something wonderful.
He saw a form and knew that it was the woman he had loved, who now returned to walk with pride through her city. He smiled, feeling her touch
his face. “I am proud of you,” she seemed to be saying.” Akbar truly is still beautiful. 226-227
That experience means something for Elijah. Recalling the moment that
they have spent together, Elijah is not afraid and doubtful to express what he feels for the widow. As Fromm proposes, Elijah’s love for the widow grows from a
feeling into an act of will of decision to commit one’s life completely to that of one other person.
He checked his sobs and thought anew of the most beautiful parts of the story that together they had lived, from the meeting at the city gates, till
the moment she had written the word love on a clay tablet. Once again he could see her garment, her chair, the fine sculpting of her nose. 227
45 All the efforts Elijah does to rebuild the city does not only give benefits
for those who are still alive, Elijah hopes that the spirit of the widow will be pleased of the things he has done. Further, after he saw her that time, he raises the
prayer that the widow will always be in peace and happiness. You told me you were Akbar. Well, I have taken care of you, healed your
wounds, and now I return you to life. May you be happy among your new companions. Long since, the desert wind wiped away our footprints in the
sand. But at every second of my existence, I remember what happened, and you still walk in my dreams and in my reality. Thank you for having
crossed my path. 227
2. Faith
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