Hope and Home Forevermore!

"It is the Christmas time; 

"And up and down 'twixt heaven and earth--

"In glorious grief and solemn mirth, 

"The shining angels climb"

The words of this poem caught my eye this evening. I wouldn't have thought much about it usually, other than to note it was a beautiful quote and file it away for some use later on. But today, somehow, the words of this poem gripped me inside and wouldn't leave my mind. It was if they seemed to mirror my deepest thoughts and feelings at that very moment.

You see, just that morning I had heard about the tragic disaster that had befallen the dear children of the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. The news broke my heart and the tears flowed freely from eyes. How many mothers would not hold their babies in their arms again, nor feel the warmth of their little bundles of joy pressed against them? How many fathers will not have the adorning eyes of their children upon them, nor their have the joy of their soft embrace anymore? How many empty bedrooms would there be tonight in the houses of those whose joy and happiness had been snuffed out in a moment?

As I wept for the sorrow of these hurting families and as I prayed for their comfort and healing, the words of this poem drifted through my head once more. Moved, I began to write:

"Glorious grief and solemn mirth.

A mixture of sorrow and joy.
 

For there is much sorrow in the world, where they descend as messengers, helpers, guides.
 

And joy, for there is much joy in Heaven—their eternal home … and ours.
 

They carry in their arms, as they ascend this Christmas, more than the aroma of praises and prayers.
 

They carry children, who rise from this world into the enduring arms of a Father who will never let them go.  

Children who were loved, wanted, cherished—yet whose lives ended in tragedy.
 

Too soon.
 

Yet now they are held. Loved. Safe and secure.
 

Now they are in a place where no pain or sorrow will ever enter and grab hold of them again.
 

They are Home.
 

Waiting to welcome those who loved them and cared for them in this life, with open arms.

It is their first Christmas in Heaven, where all they will know is glorious mirth forever more.

Now in the arms of shining angels, and ever in the hearts of those who love them."

Hope forever lives on in spite of this tragedy, for though the little lives of these children may have been snuffed out for a time, they are not lost. No, they live on forever more in the arms of the angels in their eternal Home in Heaven--forever free from sadness, pain, hurt, and evil. They now abide in the bosom of their Heavenly Father, Who cares for them as His own. 

And one day, all will be reunited together in Heaven. Mothers will hold their babies once more; fathers will embrace their children again; homes will be filled with happiness and joy for eternity! This life is not the end--all hope is not lost. There is a better Tomorrow coming!--and it will be here soon. Love will conquer all; all will be made right; and we all will be together again--for eternity!

Knocking at Heaven's Doors...

Knocking at Heaven's Doors...

The near-death experience (NDE) is the term for a state of awareness that has been extensively studied and researched over the past 35 years, since it was first used by Dr. Moody in his groundbreaking book Life After Life. Since then, researchers and doctors, scientists and psychologists, skeptics and believers alike, have studied and tried to make sense of the phenomenon, which most commonly occurs—as would be guessed—when someone is close to death. The near-death experience contains a number of elements, or stages, unique to the state, such as the feeling of leaving one’s body, entering or going through a tunnel, being bathed with or entering a light so bright and finding it does not hurt the eyes, being met by loved ones who have passed on, or a being of light, reviewing one’s life from beginning to end, being told or decided that now is not time to die. Experiences do not commonly contain every single element. I will leave further explanation of the phenomenon itself to those who have researched the topic for years and have interviewed many experiencers, or who have even had an NDE of his or her own.

I have had an interest in NDEs since I first read Closer To The Light, a study of children who have had NDEs. Subsequently, I read Embraced by the Light, Saved by the Light, Life After Life, and Life Before Life, which for me acted as hors’ doevres, a sampling, an appetizer for deeper truths and concepts.

I was soon thrilled to discover that they were all around. They whispered from dreams, peeked out through revelations and realizations. I have since deemed them spiritual experiences and I would venture to say it is a rare person who has not, at some point in their life, had a spiritual experience in some form.

I realize that such a subjective statement could easily be put aside by those quick to disbelieve. Things can easily be explained away and too often are—“coincidence” when we think of someone and within fifteen seconds they call, “luck” when we are rescued from a close shave, “meaningless” when we have a dream, “useless” when someone says I am praying for you—when all the while those in realms beyond who would love to aid us, who reach out in every way they can, are pushed aside as myth, taboo, occult or simplistic.

Yet still a greater reality beckons to all who would listen, and brings to a greater understanding those who step into the ocean of the depths and heights of the spiritual realm.

There are those who would say it is inaccessible to those who have not crossed over. If that were the case, why then thousands of stories of lives changed forever by their experience of stepping beyond the veil for a moment and returning to share the glory of the light with others?

It is said in the Bible, after speaking of the amazing feats of great man of faith, that we on earth are surrounded by that very same 'cloud of witnesses'. What would their role be if not to watch for the sake of guiding and leading us in the race that they have already run, and won?

Their wisdom, gained from a lifetime of experiences, their insight, possible from a realm of infinite understanding, their comfort, poured out from a realm of infinite love, their strength, bestowed by hands that are never weary and arms that never tire—are available at the touch of our faith and request of our lips.

Each time they reach out to touch or aid one of us can be deemed a miracle, a touch of the supernatural upon a physical world. Whether a near death experience or any other experience of a spiritual or supernatural nature, it is always for a purpose, and often for more than only one purpose. The plan of a God so great that none can fully grasp him, yet so personal that he reaches down to touch the lives and hearts of each of his creations in the way he knows is best, and the time he knows is right.

Sometimes it is an encounter with an angel. Sometimes it is no more than a dream. Or it could be a 'chance' meeting that changes the course of your life. There are no coincidences, and every day is framed with a touch of the divine, if only it was recognized more often by us on earth whose lives are daily influenced and guided by those who wait for us beyond the veil.

Unaware Angels

Unaware angels

There is a verse somewhere in the Bible that talks about being kind to strangers because we never know when we might be entertaining angels unawares.

I have heard enough stories and experiences from people I know and trust, and experienced things myself to know this to be true.

However there is another kind of 'angel unaware'. I am unsure whether this second kind occurs more or less often than the kind mentioned in the Bible. The funny thing is, it is up to us how many times it happens.

Have you ever been an angel unaware? Have you been there for someone, called them at just the time they needed someone to talk to? Answered the phone in the middle of the night and listened and reassured a friend who was despairing? Written a note of encouragement or blessing to a friend because they just happened to pop into your mind? Done a favor for someone when they were down and out? Has someone ever done any odds those things, or other things, for you? Are there those of whom you would say, 'he/she was an angel to me when I needed it most'. Maybe they don't even know that it meant so much to you and that it was something you'll never forget. They were unaware that they were an angel...an angel unaware.

Would you be interested in being an angel unaware? The opportunities arise at the oddest times and places, usually when we feel we have nothing left to give, or when we don't really feel we have the time or wherewithal to reach out to another. Maybe that is so that we do  not credit ourselves too much. After all, an angel is what? A messenger. Whose messenger? God's. What better time to be a messenger of love, hope and comfort than at a time we know it cannot be us and we rely on Him the most.

I could sure do with more angelic presence in my life. I would be more than happy to entertain angels. When they're not seeking to be entertained, though, I think I'll try to help others by being an unaware angel.

Care to join me?