Man, what a good nights sleep, I thought, as I stretched and yawned. Looking around me I realized how early it still was. There was time for a morning flight before I reported to class. Great. Nothing I loved more that soaring through the air watching the stars fade and the sun rise.
The first thing I heard as I was getting ready for take off, was “Whooo, Whooo,”
“Good morning Mr. Owl,” I said as I extended my wings. His enormous eyes looked at me without blinking. I suspected he was waiting for something. Sure enough, done on the ground I saw something hesitate, then whiskers appeared, a little nose twitched, sniffing about, then two long ears popped out of a opening under Mr. Owl’s tree. Mr. Owl had not moved a feather. He was waiting patiently for dinner. I couldn’t stand it, I wouldn’t let Mrs. Rabbit meet her demise today, not while I was watching. “Shoo,” I yelled and two long ears and a nose submerged below the ground once again. I couldn’t help it, I’m pro live. Mr. Owl scowled at me then flailed his wingsHe’d just have to settle for mice tonight, sorry, I agree with humans, mice are creepy. I feared he would target me with his claws and beaks but no, he just flew away with ruffled feathers.
I followed suit, flying into the sunrise. The colors on the horizon were splendid as light crept into the darkness and overcame it. Fingers of orange and red crept into the blackness, melting it as the sun transformed itself from an orange basketball in to a ball of fire. The coolness of night evaporated into the warmness of morning. Flowers started to appear under me, trees started to sing, well actually it’s occupants started to sing. Surely I didn’t have to tell you trees can’t sing. The magical paint brush took over as hill and dale became brighter and brighter spotted with blues, violets, yellows and greens. Rain sprinkled down and nourished plant life before filling rambling rivers that flowed over smooth rocks on their way to bigger bodies of water.
As I headed west I spotted night creatures yawning and creeping into caves, holes and tree trunks while the day animals crept out of caves, holes and tree trunks. A mother deer strolled to a river coaxing Bambi along, who just wanted to play with his bunny friend, Thumper and his skunk friend, Flowers. Foxes came out to hunt for breakfast while their breakfasts came out to invade the area gardens. Eat all the carrots you want, I don’t care for them myself, I encouraged Mr. Cotton tail while I distracted Mr. Farmer.
As I made my way over the ocean, gargantuan Orcas blew salty water up at me splashing the surface with their tails. Two ton infants swam under their moms and were rewarded with squirts of milk. Luckily mom didn’t have to attempt to burp these nursing children. It’s hard to believe those creatures gain 150 pounds a day! No wonder they can’t fly. Dolphins competed playfully against each other with their synchronized swims. They were trying to impress me, and they succeeded. What a magnificent sight. I joined in the fun, diving in and out of the water beside them. Oh, that’s so refreshing. Suddenly I got entangled in a school of fish that were being sucked into the digestive system of a whale. Tumbling around inside a cavernous stomach I struggled to get my bearings, then shot up and out through Mr. Whale’s blow hole. Feathers went everywhere! I hope they grow back!
Sharks, one of the last remnants of my favorite dinosaur containing era, surfaced and sliced the water with their fins, menacingly circling about. They stayed a safe distance from their foes the dolphins. They didn’t scare me….much. Anyway, all I was good for was soul food.
Further and further I flew, higher and higher the sun rose. More color appeared under me exposed by the rays of light. Bears scavenging near camp grounds looking for chocolate or other goodies. The smell of coffee drifted up to me. I never had a taste for the stuff but it sure smelled good.
Trees spread their branches out, teeming with colorful species of operatic parrots and such . Corn fields grew abundant stalks, with scare crows strategically positioned so the crows could make good use of them as perches. Yea, like scare crows are really scary to hungry birds. Hunger trumps fear! Cows grazed in pastures while sheep bleated up in the mountains. Oh, my gosh, that wolf is slinking towards a stray lamb. I know in the near future the lamb and wolf will lie down together, but right now only one would get back up! I swooped down and interfered once again in the cycle of life, returning the little darling back to the flock. The sheep dog fainted when he saw the lucky stray plunge down from the air and back into the fold. Maybe I should have let him see me!
Further and further I flew. The warmth started dissipate the further north I flew. Floating islands of ice appeared below me that held large groups of walruses more at home in the freezing climate than I would be if this was where I hung my clothes. Actually, if I lived here I’d never take my clothes off. Oh, oh. That poor baby. A little walrus was floating out to sea on a small ice floe. He was flopping around trying to decide whether to dive into the water in search of mommy. I whistled shrilly and out popped a head from the icy cold blue water. Mommy pushed the floe in the direction of larger ice shelves that held cliffs and hiding places. The global warming was melting the glaciers and more and more calves are being swept away from their mother‘s, dying alone. Like I said, I’m pro life. I wish the stewards of this planet had had more foresight and less ignorance about their surroundings, they only get one chance….down here.
I was coming up over open spaces now. Oh, look at that, striped horses racing across the savannah, manes airborne. Wait a minute, they’re not running for their health. There it is, a lioness out doing the dirty work for her husband and pride, not her pride, the group she lives with. She’s in crouch position. One. Two. Three. She lunged forward. Oops. What tripped her? Darn I have such big feet. I should be ashamed of myself. Oh, well. Did I mention I was pro-life? Mrs. Lion sulked off, glowering at me. She wasn’t going to take on a fight she’d loose. The zebra halted meters away and tossed their heads at me, gratefully. I’m sure they wished I was around more often. Then they walked at a steady pace to distance themselves from danger.
Oh, my gosh, Look at the time. I’m not only late for class, I think it’s over! I hit the gas, so to speak and jetted upward to the clouds, white, fluffy soft wisps of air filled with water droplets. I received a refreshing sort of shower as I passed through them, fully clothed. I’m not a nudist. I scanned the upper side of the billowy white fluffs looking for my teacher. There he was, loading up his instrument, strapping it to his back. My class mates doing them same.
“Well, where have you been. You’ll never learn to play if you keep missing class.” He lectured.
“I’m sorry, I was just enjoying the ‘day the lord hath made.’ ” I answered, not making excuses, just stating facts. I left out the part where I intervened in the course of nature several times. I was ready for my punishment. Extra practice? Suspension? Expulsion?
Teach rubbed his jaw assimilating this information. “You know, that would be a great field trip, we haven’t done that in some time.” He faced the dissembling group and announced, “Field day tomorrow, no harp lessons.” A cheer went up from all angels present. I was ecstatic, two days circling the globe! Maybe tomorrow I‘ll breeze over the other hemisphere! “But you,” he continued, “will stay here and go over today’s lesson.” He handed me a musical score that would take several days to learn..
My wings sagged. Oh, well, even angels have to follow the rules.
Psalm 50:10
Psalm 65:9-13
Psalm 118:24
Isaiah 65:25
Jonah 2
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
the lunch guest
the Lunch guest
There he sat, in the choir looking so angelic. Little did the congregation know how hateful he could be. As I watched him smiling and singing my heart turned over and over with the hurtful words he’d hurled at me before we left for church, in separate cars. And to top it off, as I watched him, the guy behind him watched me. A triangle of watchers! I avoided His eyes while my husband, Jeff, avoided looking at me. It was so totally uncomfortable that I was overjoyed (a slice of the silver lining in the black cloud that hung over me) to hear the final benediction so I could flee to my car. Jeff stayed with the choir members and would come home in his own car later. Maybe he’d find his stuff thrown out on the front lawn, a constant fantasy of mine!
At home I relived the entire morning over and over allowing tears to drip onto the food I was preparing for my lunch. I prepared a salad for myself, Jeff would be going to his mother’s for lunch. I was invited also, of course, but there was no way I felt like being near his family today. This was my way of cutting off my nose to spite my face, his mother always provided a lavish Sunday meal.
Great, some one was at the front door. Should I answer it or not. It was probably someone from the paper trying to get a subscription, or a religious zealot seeking converts to their church! I scrunched up on the couch so I wouldn’t be seen from the door’s window. Rap. Rap. Rap, rap, rap. Oh, bother. I got up an peeked out the window in time to see Him place his feet on the first step down off the porch. The second foot followed, then the next foot. Darn it all! I opened the door. My visitor turned, smiled, nodded and walked in. Don’t bother to ask or say hi.
He settled Himself on the sofa, looked at my solitary meal sitting on the coffee table, and the litter about me, then He raised a brow and scrutinized me. Tissue was wadded up all over the room and a full, well it was full once, box of Kleenex was sitting on the end table. It was a pathetic sight.
“Wasn’t that an inspirational sermon?” He opened the conversation, a safe topic.
“Yea,” I answered. Should I offer him something to eat? “Would you like some salad and something to drink?” Say no, that’ll mean you don’t plan on staying long!
“Sure.” He responded. Well, there you go, He can’t read minds after all! I divided up my huge salad onto two plates, added some bread and fruit and presto, a meal for two. I won’t tell him how I cleaned the lettuce with my tears, let him think it was just too salty.
“So what was your favorite part of the sermon?” He quizzed.
Oops, now it stopped being a safe topic, I hadn’t really listened, so caught up was I in anger and self flagellation for being a doormat. If He'd asked what my plans for retaliation were, I would have been a verbal fountain.
“Well….I …the part….”
“Hmmm. I see. The sermon was on love and forgiveness.”
“Yeah, I know. I was there.” I retorted, shifting uncomfortably.
“No, you weren’t. You were off in another world, plotting revenge and planning on a pay back.” He proclaimed without reproach, just factually.
I lowered my eyes. I couldn’t face Him right now. How dare he make me feel uncomfortable in my own home. His eyes were bearing down on me, I felt my clothes dissolve. I pictured my heart on a ultra sound machine beating visibly for Him. No, it wasn’t beating in rhythm. It was too cold to beat at a normal rate. It was calcifying, becoming harder, less efficient.
He placed his hand on my knee, not in a inappropriate manner, just gently to get my attention. When He removed his hand a red spot remained on my jeans. Blood?
“Vengeance is God’s. It’s your job to love and forgive.”
“You don’t know what he said to me this morning! You’ve never been hurt like I was!” I exploded. How dare he judge me. How dare He intrude into my brain and heart. What a pervert, what a busy body.
“You’re right. I have never trusted someone and been disappointed.” He stated leaning back on the sofa.
Suddenly light appeared on the wall in front of me. Something took shape like a movie reel. Two men were standing in a garden and I could see a crowd of official looking men in the background wearing military suits. There He was, being approached by one of his friends. The friend laid his hand on His shoulder and leaned in with a kiss, then pandemonium broke loose as men were shoved about and He was handcuffed and escorted out of the scene, tears rolling down His cheeks, tears on a face that looked like mine!
"I just want to hurt him!" I cried, "I want him to cry like he made me cry!"
He reached over to a picture of Jeff on the side table. Removing the picture from the frame he held it up. "Here, beat the heck out of this, if it'll make you feel better." He offered.
I was ready, fist formed anger filling my soul. Vengeance on the rise. I could taste the pain I was going to inflict on Jeff. Right before I sent my fist flying I pulled back. "Wait, if you hold the picture that high and so close to your face I'll hit you! Move the picture over and to the side!"
"That's my point. Whenever you hurt one of the least in my kingdom, you hurt me! I stand behind all my children."
It finally penetrated my understanding. The sermon this morning had been aimed at me. Strategically spoken, personally delivered. I missed the point. The sacrificial lamb had to follow me home. Make sure I understood. The phone rang as I was digesting my revelation.
"Hey, come on over here, Sissy {his sister} made a neat dessert. You need to try it out!" Jeff, casually, informally inviting me over to his mother's. No apology, just picking up at a different spot in our lives.
I looked at Him, He shrugged. "He's a man, that might be the closest you get to an apology. Go for it," He prompted. "Besides, I'm the only man I know that's never had to say he's sorry," he added with a devilish grin.
"I'll be right there." I informed Jeff. Returning the phone to the receiver I reached for my keys. "Do you want a ride home," I offered.
Opening his arms to engulf me in a comforting, and encouraging hug, He stated, "I'm already home." As we embraced he vaporized in my hold. The mist he formed rose and entered my air passages, filled my lungs and disapated into my blood stream. I felt my heart softening, warming, beating regularly. Painlessly. There was a red stain on the sofa where His back had rested. I don't think I'll bother to have it cleaned.
On the way to my car I spotted the bloody foot steps leading to my house. Footsteps He had left when He came to visit me. I'm sure if I traced the steps they'd lead back to the church, into the sanctuary, up to the alter and the cross behind it where two feet had been pierced with a rusty nail two thousand years ago.
Math. 6:14
Math 9:6
Math 18:21
Math 25:40-45
1 john 3:13-15
1 John 4:20
There he sat, in the choir looking so angelic. Little did the congregation know how hateful he could be. As I watched him smiling and singing my heart turned over and over with the hurtful words he’d hurled at me before we left for church, in separate cars. And to top it off, as I watched him, the guy behind him watched me. A triangle of watchers! I avoided His eyes while my husband, Jeff, avoided looking at me. It was so totally uncomfortable that I was overjoyed (a slice of the silver lining in the black cloud that hung over me) to hear the final benediction so I could flee to my car. Jeff stayed with the choir members and would come home in his own car later. Maybe he’d find his stuff thrown out on the front lawn, a constant fantasy of mine!
At home I relived the entire morning over and over allowing tears to drip onto the food I was preparing for my lunch. I prepared a salad for myself, Jeff would be going to his mother’s for lunch. I was invited also, of course, but there was no way I felt like being near his family today. This was my way of cutting off my nose to spite my face, his mother always provided a lavish Sunday meal.
Great, some one was at the front door. Should I answer it or not. It was probably someone from the paper trying to get a subscription, or a religious zealot seeking converts to their church! I scrunched up on the couch so I wouldn’t be seen from the door’s window. Rap. Rap. Rap, rap, rap. Oh, bother. I got up an peeked out the window in time to see Him place his feet on the first step down off the porch. The second foot followed, then the next foot. Darn it all! I opened the door. My visitor turned, smiled, nodded and walked in. Don’t bother to ask or say hi.
He settled Himself on the sofa, looked at my solitary meal sitting on the coffee table, and the litter about me, then He raised a brow and scrutinized me. Tissue was wadded up all over the room and a full, well it was full once, box of Kleenex was sitting on the end table. It was a pathetic sight.
“Wasn’t that an inspirational sermon?” He opened the conversation, a safe topic.
“Yea,” I answered. Should I offer him something to eat? “Would you like some salad and something to drink?” Say no, that’ll mean you don’t plan on staying long!
“Sure.” He responded. Well, there you go, He can’t read minds after all! I divided up my huge salad onto two plates, added some bread and fruit and presto, a meal for two. I won’t tell him how I cleaned the lettuce with my tears, let him think it was just too salty.
“So what was your favorite part of the sermon?” He quizzed.
Oops, now it stopped being a safe topic, I hadn’t really listened, so caught up was I in anger and self flagellation for being a doormat. If He'd asked what my plans for retaliation were, I would have been a verbal fountain.
“Well….I …the part….”
“Hmmm. I see. The sermon was on love and forgiveness.”
“Yeah, I know. I was there.” I retorted, shifting uncomfortably.
“No, you weren’t. You were off in another world, plotting revenge and planning on a pay back.” He proclaimed without reproach, just factually.
I lowered my eyes. I couldn’t face Him right now. How dare he make me feel uncomfortable in my own home. His eyes were bearing down on me, I felt my clothes dissolve. I pictured my heart on a ultra sound machine beating visibly for Him. No, it wasn’t beating in rhythm. It was too cold to beat at a normal rate. It was calcifying, becoming harder, less efficient.
He placed his hand on my knee, not in a inappropriate manner, just gently to get my attention. When He removed his hand a red spot remained on my jeans. Blood?
“Vengeance is God’s. It’s your job to love and forgive.”
“You don’t know what he said to me this morning! You’ve never been hurt like I was!” I exploded. How dare he judge me. How dare He intrude into my brain and heart. What a pervert, what a busy body.
“You’re right. I have never trusted someone and been disappointed.” He stated leaning back on the sofa.
Suddenly light appeared on the wall in front of me. Something took shape like a movie reel. Two men were standing in a garden and I could see a crowd of official looking men in the background wearing military suits. There He was, being approached by one of his friends. The friend laid his hand on His shoulder and leaned in with a kiss, then pandemonium broke loose as men were shoved about and He was handcuffed and escorted out of the scene, tears rolling down His cheeks, tears on a face that looked like mine!
"I just want to hurt him!" I cried, "I want him to cry like he made me cry!"
He reached over to a picture of Jeff on the side table. Removing the picture from the frame he held it up. "Here, beat the heck out of this, if it'll make you feel better." He offered.
I was ready, fist formed anger filling my soul. Vengeance on the rise. I could taste the pain I was going to inflict on Jeff. Right before I sent my fist flying I pulled back. "Wait, if you hold the picture that high and so close to your face I'll hit you! Move the picture over and to the side!"
"That's my point. Whenever you hurt one of the least in my kingdom, you hurt me! I stand behind all my children."
It finally penetrated my understanding. The sermon this morning had been aimed at me. Strategically spoken, personally delivered. I missed the point. The sacrificial lamb had to follow me home. Make sure I understood. The phone rang as I was digesting my revelation.
"Hey, come on over here, Sissy {his sister} made a neat dessert. You need to try it out!" Jeff, casually, informally inviting me over to his mother's. No apology, just picking up at a different spot in our lives.
I looked at Him, He shrugged. "He's a man, that might be the closest you get to an apology. Go for it," He prompted. "Besides, I'm the only man I know that's never had to say he's sorry," he added with a devilish grin.
"I'll be right there." I informed Jeff. Returning the phone to the receiver I reached for my keys. "Do you want a ride home," I offered.
Opening his arms to engulf me in a comforting, and encouraging hug, He stated, "I'm already home." As we embraced he vaporized in my hold. The mist he formed rose and entered my air passages, filled my lungs and disapated into my blood stream. I felt my heart softening, warming, beating regularly. Painlessly. There was a red stain on the sofa where His back had rested. I don't think I'll bother to have it cleaned.
On the way to my car I spotted the bloody foot steps leading to my house. Footsteps He had left when He came to visit me. I'm sure if I traced the steps they'd lead back to the church, into the sanctuary, up to the alter and the cross behind it where two feet had been pierced with a rusty nail two thousand years ago.
Math. 6:14
Math 9:6
Math 18:21
Math 25:40-45
1 john 3:13-15
1 John 4:20
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