Chapter 12
The kids from the Young Evangelical Society—the YES kids—are apparently mad at me. I’m not biblical enough for them. Sorry. But we’re not in opposition. Heavenly Mind has no opposition. It allows rap and Beethoven, artist and athlete, Goth and geek, YES and NO... Everything!
But here’s the question: Is your word-for-word Bible study evolving you in any way? Do you see the depths of what it really says? I’m sure you’ll find the experience of heavenly mind in there, if you look for it. How about adding to your literal study this new way of experiencing your soul-self, your Heavenly “I”. The gospels are more than just a bunch of neat quotes you can memorize. Try really feeling the kingdom of Heaven, which I call Heavenly Mind. I assure you it’s a truth you can taste. Go for the knowing that lies beyond mere words! That’s all I’d say to the YES kids.”
- From His Recorded Words
That evening around 11:00 pm the phone started ringing, which it never did that late. I came downstairs to get it, on the way turned off the TV and snatched a dripping beer from Dad’s sleeping hand. Danny was on the line asking if I could bring him to the hospital to visit Aunt Polly. Michelle had just called him. “She’s asking for me,” he said. “Michelle said we should hurry.”
About five minutes later I arrived at Danny’s house on the cycle. He took the helmet and hopped on. “Drive fast,” he said. I got us to the hospital in a record eleven minutes.
There were about ten adults already there, including Michelle’s mother and father. They were coming and going from Aunt Polly’s room and talking in hushed tones. Everyone seemed calm to me. Sad, of course, but calm. One woman did break into a teary fit, but it passed and then she was fine, talking normally again. Michelle introduced us to her parents, her father for the first time, and then to an older sister of Aunt Polly, Aunt Jessey, and then Aunt Jessey’s husband. They were from New York somewhere. The adults seemed to already know about Danny because that’s the way they greeted him. “It’s so nice to finally meet you...Polly has said so much about you...You’ve helped her so much... It’s been a blessing for all of us to watch her bloom in these final days…” Nice stuff like that. When people looked at me, I just crooked my head at Danny and said, “I’m his buddy.”
The nurse whose hair had gone from blonde to brown was also there. She was on duty. She’d been involved with Aunt Polly’s case all this time and was practically part of the family. When she and Michele saw each other in the hallway they came together.
I stood nearby as the nurse put a hand to Michelle’s shoulder and said, “Polly’s been so peaceful these last few weeks. It’s good for her to be so peaceful now. She’s ready.”
Michelle said with a tear, “I wish I were ready.” She hugged the nurse, and then stepped back and said, “May I hold the statue of Mary you have in your pocket?”
The nurse just stared at her a moment. “How did you know? I’ve never shown it to anyone. It’s an heirloom.”
“Danny told me. You held it when you prayed to God for him on the operating table.” They both glanced at Danny, standing with the other family members who were talking softly.
“I’ve always been very protective of my Prayer Mary, but here.” She dug a two-inch statue out of her pocket and passed it to Michelle. Michelle held it between her palms in prayer, and closed her eyes for her moment. She handed it back. “Thank you.”
Michelle guided Danny and me into Aunt Polly's room. Michelle’s parents and Aunt Jessy gathered too. All the tubes and wires were gone. This looked better, and I think she must have liked it that way, because her eyes still shined like they had the last time we’d seen her. The rest of her was a wrinkled gray sheet, but her eyes were brilliant.
She smiled at the ceiling, not really noticing us. Danny and Michelle moved to the bedside. Everyone else took chairs while I stayed in the doorway.
“Oh, you came,” Aunt Polly finally said. Her voice was a like failing air conditioner. “I just wanted to see you one more time.”
Her eyes traveled to her hand as if she were trying to lift it. When it didn’t move, Danny raised it for her. She laughed weakly, “Not much left.”
“No,” he said softly.
She whispered, “Everything is getting loose inside. Looser and lighter. And just to look at those two wonderful eyes again. Two beautiful pools.”
“That’s lovely, Aunt Polly,” Michelle said under her breath.
Aunt Polly gazed at Danny. “You know, I grew up on a farm? Helped Mom and Dad and Uncle Marty Joe (he’s gone now, of course) and Jessy and Barbara sowing, planting, and harvesting sugar beets. There used to be good money in sugar beets; I don’t know any more.” She paused. Danny glanced at Michelle’s mom who was just nodding and smiling. I hadn’t known before but she must have been Barbara.
“You know, I could drive a tractor when I was ten. I loved that tractor. But then I grew up and joined the airline, eager to see the exciting world beyond the farm. Been thinking about that tractor, how I used to plow the fields, breaking up all the hardened dirt and making beautiful rows in the ground for new crops. Occasionally running over gophers.”
Danny chuckled.
“It’s all so pins and needles, now…and wow.”
“Yes.”
She sighed and closed her eyes. “I’m going to have to sleep now. Thank you for coming.”
“Good bye,” he said, kissing her forehead gently. He stood up and looked down at her for a few seconds. Somehow I expected him to yank her wrinkly skin off like a magician’s curtain…and underneath it? Just clear space holding two big eyes and a Cheshire Cat smile, which would immediately shoot into space. I would have liked that.
Of course, no such thing happened and after we left them Danny wanted to drive around for a while before going home. So I cruised the lighted streets for an hour or so. There were no other cars at this hour and I could drive all over the place with total freedom and break all the rules without risk. It was fun, and Danny just laughed and laughed behind me. I don’t think we ever said a word until I dropped him off in front of his house at about 3 am.
The next day at school I was surprised to see Michelle in the hallway. She looked so happy and well-rested I wondered if Aunt Polly’s condition was improving. I asked how her aunt was doing. She said: “Oh, she’s good. She died.”