Healing

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The Rest of The Story

The locked door opened into a long narrow and drab hallway that our footsteps echoed in. At the end was another locked door that opened into another hall that emptied into a large open area full of erratic voices and disjointed movement punctuated by the blast of rap music … “Well I shoot him in the leg, and I shoot him in the chest and I shoot him in the motherf…ing head!!!!” … Ba Bam bam bam boom, ba bam bam bam boom … A group of four playing Spades sat at a wobbly table and was encircled by a larger standing group and half of each were wearing white smocks denoting authority of some sort. A stagnant odor of stalled humanity seemed to match the institutional beige brick walls. I was given, no doubt, the standard greeting by a very large asymmetric fellow with glazed eyes that looked elsewhere, “Give me a dollar!” I ignored him and sat down in a lone chair in the only unoccupied corner of the room. I resigned myself to having entered hell and was not surprised by the music.

My mind raced, one thought frantically chasing another; … nurse said they found me clinically dead on a park bench, EMTs had to ‘jump start’ me …doesn’t matter how long I’m here, I have nowhere to go … from a $60,000 job and a political career to a homeless corpse on a bench to hell’s waiting room … I knew they would blast rap here!

Days (Might as well been years) later, as I felt my pulse unwittingly syncing to the rap, He came … Sudden and soft, yet with unmistakable presence, a voice that I had never heard before but immediately recognized spoke to my heart. “I am here, I am with you, and I will never leave you”. The rap fell silent as my soul yearned to hear more … “You are going to be all right, now and from this moment on for all eternity. You will be with me and I with you. Trust me, wait for me, I will give you a sign. Delight in obeying me”

I was visited once in those ten months Rapville, it was by Gail from my church, she gave me a bible. That gift was all that I owned as not even my socks or underwear were mine, and it was all I needed. Indeed, it was to be the first time in my life that I felt I had all I needed and all that I would ever need. I put the bible down after Gail left and then the sign … “Take it up and read”. Read what, my Lord? Where do I begin? … “Take it up and read” I opened it. I read.

“Come to Me all who labor and are heavy laden AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. For I’m gently and lowly in heart, AND YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light"
I reflected for several delicious hours. Then I head “Take it up and read” I opened it. I read.

“So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”

I reflected for many divinely ecstatic days. Then I heard “Take it up and read”. I opened it. I read.

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” I am His! The bridegroom has claimed me! But what is his will for me? How shall I please Him, my Lord and Lover? I heard” Take it up and read” I opened it. I read.

“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything”.

I live in a beautiful home. My income supports me. I am filled with love for my creator and Savior. I do delight to obey Him because I know it brings Glory to Him and He has gracefully granted my heart with the burning desire to Glorify Him just as He has promised me my glorification. Each morning when I wake I hear “Take it up and read” and I am delirious in my joy to do so while a little tear of gratitude wells up in my eye.

Today I opened it. I read; "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." Praise my Lover Lord God!
Desperado 6/17/04
RED

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