The Coming Times ^TM

 
Scribe

My Mother holds the globe out away from herself

So that I can look at it

And I do

I lean forward and look at this little globe
In between her fingers

And as I lean forward

I continue leaning forward and fall into the globe

And again I am descending gently, softly

Down through the dark clouds of the night

Again the clouds are laden with moisture

Again I feel very safe in their arms

And I am finally placed upon the ground

And why I am at the same seaside village

That I had visited last time!

The one that had flooded out all of the people

Who had failed to respond
To the sound of the angels’ trumpets

And I wonder why I am here again

What more could there possibly be to see

And I am on the street between the village
And the ocean shore

And I notice the street lamps are lit

The structures are standing

Looking at the town from where I stand

There is no evidence of its devastating and fatal flood

And I decide to walk up the street and into the town

And I do so

And I am walking up Main Street

And the silent shops seem to be looking at me

They seem to be aware of my presence
 

And I walk
And I hear the sound of my footsteps against the street

For the town is quiet indeed

And I feel eyes upon me

I turn around quickly

And for an instant I feel a presence

But then it is gone

And the hair on the back of my neck stands on end

And I start walking more slowly now

Taking my time

Sensing the air around me

And yes, the air is not empty

Though their bodies may have been washed into the sea

The people are still walking the town

They are lost and know not what to do

Many of them have repressed the memory

Of what had happened to them

The memory of the flooding

And yet they know something is wrong

Something is not quite right

They are lost and helpless and yes, they are nervous

They know not where to go

They know not whom to seek for help

They are as shades drifting aimlessly and listlessly

Through the streets of the town

Wondering why no one is helping them

They see me

They see that I am alive

And that I am walking down their street
With my physical body!

They know full well that they no longer have physical bodies

They know full well that they are mere shades of themselves

And they weep and are confused

And know not where nor whom to turn to

And they watch me

They watch me

They watch me

And I stop in the middle of the street

Right in the center of the length and the width
Of their Main Street

And I turn around in place a full 360 degrees

As though I am giving them all a chance

To look at and see me

And I breathe and I pray

Dear God in Heaven

What am I supposed to do

And God replies

 God

Do what you must to bring these children home to me

 Scribe

And I sit down right in place

I sit in the meditative position

But I am not meditating

I am listening, I am waiting, I am still

And yes, slowly, slowly, slowly

Shadows emerge from the walls of the shop

Individual shadows and shapes become distinct

And they slowly and hesitatingly walk toward me

They do not come all the way up to me

They remain a respectful 3 feet away

They do not encroach upon my space

And I breathe and I pray

Dear God in Heaven

What am I supposed to say to these people

And God replies

 God

Tell them that I love them

Tell them that I have forgiven them all, all!

Tell them that I will welcome them home with open arms

 Scribe

And so I say to the shades around me

I say

My Heavenly Father and yours

Has sent me to tell you

That he loves you

He wants you to know
That he has forgiven each and every one of you

For each and every one of your sins and transgressions

There is nothing you have done
That he has not already forgiven you

There is nothing you have failed to do
That he has not already forgiven you

God our loving Father

Is waiting for you to come home to him

He is eager for you to come home to him

He has his heart and his arms open wide to receive you

To receive you into his embrace

And yes to receive you into his home

The home he has created just for you

He wishes you to know that you need not remain here

He wishes you to know that you are forgiven for not hearing

For not responding to the sound of the angels’ trumpets

He understands that some of you may think

You have not heard their sound

And that to understand is to forgive

You are free to go home

You will be welcome

You will not be condemned

You will be welcome and graciously and warmly received

You are free

You are free

You are free to return home

And now I am silent and I am still

Still seated in the middle center of their Main Street

And now I am surrounded by shades

All 360 degrees around me, there are shades

And yes they have been listening to me

And yes they have heard me

And I remain quiet and I remain still

And I wait

And I wait

And I wait

And finally a shade steps forward and says to me

Miss, how do we return home to our Heavenly Father

And I reply

That is easy

You pray

You pray

You pray

That is how you return home

And some of the shades turn away from my answer

They turn away and leave

And some of the shades get on their knees and start to pray

Some pray the Our Father

Others pray the prayers of their respective religions

They pray

They pray

They pray

Silently they pray

Out loud they pray