Encouragement

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Close Encounter Of The Heavenly Kind
© 2010

by

Stephen A. Peterson

Sergeant First Class Albert Pippenbach was now in his eighteenth year as a member of the United States Army and his fifth deployment in nine years. Although he was away from his family so often, Albert and Karen Pippenbach were dedicated to each other their children. Sergeant Pippenbach’s world was shattered when he received the news that Karen and their two daughters were involved in an automobile accident that instantly took their lives.

Sergeant Pippenbach was immediately returned to Oklahoma to be with his family. “I don’t know how I can manage this,” he said. “Why them? Karen was a great wife and mother. The girls were well-behaved and loving children.

Rather than stay in their house, Sergeant Pippenbach chose to be with his parents. For three days following the funeral, he refused food and was unwilling to receive visits from anyone. Sergeant Pippenbach just sat in a chair holding tightly both hands as he cried and questioned God. “Lord Jesus, have mercy on me,” he whispered. “I’m so alone and I don’t know what to do. I can’t hate you but why did you take the ones I love so much? Why didn’t you take me and spare Karen and our daughters? Why don’t you answer me?”

For the first time in three, Sergeant Pippenbach left the room to walk outside to avoid going crazy. As he neared the mailbox, a cardinal swooped past his face and perched itself on his left shoulder. Never in his life had he seen a cardinal come close to a human but there it was.

Sergeant Pippenbach stood very still as well as trying to determine why a generally timid bird would be as bold as to land on him. Slowly turning his head in the direction of the cardinal, he could see the bird bow his head as though to express its sorrow for his loss. Then another strange thing happened—it was though he could hear the voices of his wife and children telling him how happy they were to be in God’s presence and that they would be waiting for him. A great calmness came over Sergeant Pippenbach such as he had never known since his family had died. He took four steps. The cardinal rode on Sergeant Pippenbach’s should past the mailbox then flew up to the highest branch of a pear tree where it began to chirp for a few minutes. The chirps seemed to announce the glory of God and his love for everything created.

Sergeant Pippenbach remained motionless before he came to realize that though he had gone through the worse ordeal of his life that he was not alone. God was, is and will be with him no matter where he was or what the circumstance happened to be. The cardinal was his messenger sent to tell him that his wife and children with him as well.

Sergeant Pippenbach, from that point on, learned from his close encounter of the heavenly kind always keeps His promise, “I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.” (John 14:18—NIV).

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