The Shades of the Town - The Coming Times

The Coming Times

The Shades of the Town

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 t

hat I had visited last time!

The one that had flooded out all of the people

Who had failed to respond t

o 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 a

nd 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 again 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 w

ith 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

And I stop in the middle of the street

Right in the center of the length and the width o

f their Main Street

And I turn around in place a full 360 degrees

As though I am giving them all a chance t

o look at and see me

And I breathe and I pray

Dear God in Heaven

What am I supposed to do

And God replies

Do what you must to bring these children home to me

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

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

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 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 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

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

Silently they pray

Out loud they pray

In tears they pray

Sobbing from the heart they pray

And others of the shades remain standing in place

Neither leaving nor kneeling

Neither turning away nor praying

I do not know what these shades are thinking or feeling

I could sense the feeling of futility o

f the shades who had turned away

And I can sense the heartbreaking sincerity o

f the shades who are praying

But I cannot sense what the shades who remain standing, u

ndecided, a

re feeling

They are waiting for proof

They will not be made fools of

No!

And so they stand and they watch those on their knees

And they wait

And yes slowly but surely

One at a time

A shade on his knees evaporates from our sight

We do not see him ascend

We do not see him descend

We do not see where he goes

He simply and quietly, in mid-prayer, disappears

And now a few shades who are standing

Get down on their knees and pray

And now a few shades who are standing

Turn around and walk away

For they do not want to be annihilated

They do not want to disappear

And this process continues

As more shades on their knees disappear from our view

More shades standing get on their knees to pray

And more shades standing turn around and walk away

For they are frightened

They do not know where the shades who have disappeared h

ave gone to

And they do not know enough to ask God this question

And so they turn around and walk away

To melt back into the shadows of the dark night

And this process continues

1. More shades on their knees praying

Disappearing from view

2. More shades who are standing

Dropping to their knees

And praying the prayers of their childhood

3. More shades who are standing

Turning around and walking away

Walking away to melt back into the shadows of the night

Until finally there are no shades left standing

Until finally there are no shades left kneeling

Until finally the only shades that remain

Have disappeared from my sight

I no longer even feel their eyes on me

The street has an eerie feel to it, b

ut that is all

And now I know my work is done

But I pray to my Father first to verify

Abba,

I say,

Abba there are no more shades before me

Is there anything more you wish for me to do here

And my Father replies

Thank you my daughter

Your work is complete

You have done well and have brought many souls home

Come home now

And so I do