CHAPTER 9
DISORIENTED IN THE FIELD of tall corn stalks, Jasper managed to make it through using the lights of the Angels to guide him to the foreboding mountain that loomed before him. Near the base of the mountain, Jasper stumbled into a shallow wide river. He had no provisions with him, only his Bible, yet he was led to go forth, crossing the river and further into the steep hillside of trees. The darkness crowded in on him, blinding his sight altogether if not for the light of the Angels. The wilderness; choking Jasper with fear, he knew not from where his source of strength came to carry on. He just went from one step to the next. At a steep grade he climbed and there were sounds in the stillness with a spirit in the air but it was all but welcoming. Taking a breath Jasper knew he wasn’t alone. Agents of darkness slunk toward him only a short distance away.
Knees wanting to buckle and leg muscles in painful knots, he continued onward. Over rocks, and through countless bushes. Branches clawed at his face as he struggled on. Everything opposed him; the darkness, the trees, gravity and the entire world. The light of day finally left Jasper completely and even the moon was swallowed up by the night. It was of little consequence for him anyway, there was no path to follow anyway. Frequently falling over rocks and roots that grabbed at his feet, Jasper tired of complaining over such things and simply got back up and carried on. He was blind; so he would fall and he did so, more times than he could count.
Then he was completely taken by surprise when he slipped over a ledge and tumbled down the steep wall of a ravine. Exhausted, Jasper just let gravity take him. Limply disappearing into darkness, rolling over and over, Jasper’s Bible escaped his grip and was lost to nature.
Aware of his injuries, the spirits gave him no rest. No mercy. Concerned for the whereabouts of his Bible, the Angels told Jasper, “Make haste! Don’t slow or you will submit to rest.” They urged Jasper to continue on. Obviously, he had to go somewhere, to see something, but he wasn’t aware of where or why. Despite the urgency of the Angels, Jasper knew in his heart he had to continue on, no matter how serious his injuries were, he would have to worry about how much he was being taxed later.
Vanquished from stress, thirst and unrest, Jasper collapsed to the ground. Tired and cold, even the rock Jasper rested his head upon seemed to make a nice pillow.
“Jasper...” Came a feminine song from inside his head. “Jasper...” The voice called again. “It’s not far now...”
Fighting to open his eyes, Jasper managed to lift his sore head and look up to a faint light emanating from the distant fog. The supernatural voice called to Jasper again. Somehow he had to make the climb. Straight up, straining to rise against the mountain’s face, the surface was made of a rough stone which crumbled like sand. Each foot hold and grasp could let go under him at any moment. Spending careful time and energy to work his hands and feet into the cliff, Jasper had to build his confidence before he committed himself to his next move.
Grabbing hold of a great boulder that was half embedded in the cliff, Jasper was told, “You are so very close now.” Delirious, Jasper was unable to determine which Angel was speaking to him.
‘Perhaps’ Jasper thought, ‘I can reach the top ledge from this boulder.’ The boulder was smoother than he preferred. Springing upon it, Jasper’s feet and hands slipped away, but resting his belly on top of the rock, he managed to balance his weight there, ‘Yes!’ Jasper was very close to the top now. The boulder shifted; it wasn’t so stable after all. Through the pitch black night, he climbed as blind as ever. His senses, heightened, Jasper knew he was at a dangerous elevation. Spontaneously reacting to avoid going down with the heavy boulder, Jasper franticly reached out with both hands. Searching the earth near the ledge of the cliff, he lunged forward, locking his fingers around whatever he could. The great stone dislodged under his feet and as it let go of the mountain, the boulder rolled away from under Jasper and smashed against other rocks as it thundered down the steep slope. The loud impacts echoed off into the distance.
In Jasper’s hand, he clutched the thick root of a tree. For a moment he just hung there letting his tears wash the dirt from his face. With small efforts, he inched his way up over the cliff’s ledge, to safety.
As the golden presence of the sun began to shimmer from the linings of distant clouds, the silhouettes of far off mountains were revealed. Through his fog filled sight, Jasper began to observe his surroundings to get an idea where he was. Crawling out onto a hard flat surface of rock, Jasper collapsed. The stone floor was colder than the air, but he accepted that he’d been delivered to a new home.
Tired and exhausted, Jasper spent the wee morning hours shivering, but in a deep tranquil sleep.
When Jasper awoke, it was to the nostalgic sound of nature’s morning songs. First he heard the birds and they made him feel like a boy. Then he recognized the sounds of insects along with the wind through the trees. Ever so faintly the voices of Angels began to filter through the surrounding nature and Jasper couldn’t recall waking up to such a wistfully sentimental sense of peace and happiness.
Then he tried to move; pain exploded all over his body from countless forgotten injuries. Somehow he’d gotten a swollen black eye.
“It would appear our friend had opposed Sampson last night.” Joel said humorously.
“And lost!” Roger added, trying to hold back his laughter. Starr, Taila and Elana only felt pity and concern for Jasper. Wilson studied their surroundings. He was certain this was the place.
It was slow going at first under the gentle coaching of the Angels, but Jasper found the strength to finally stand. The Angels were very patient with him. They led him throughout the area showing him around. The area where Jasper slept was a wide flat circular stone. The outer half of the circular stone dropped off down the steep cliff, but the other half met the base of a massive stone that arched out over the flat stone almost like a cave or shelter. The other half of the overhanging stone was half buried into the side of the mountain. Jasper touched the smooth solid surface.
Listening, he heard the distant sound of running water. Limping as he ventured into the forest in search of the water, Jasper was able to acquire a detailed concept for the layout of the land. There were steep hills but also many leveled off areas. Though it was difficult for him to see, Jasper looked around and was captivated by the wondrous dream-like landscape. It took Jasper back to a time when he was camping with his parents and life was simpler. “I have dreamt of this place many times before.” Jasper said, “When I was a child.”
He watched as the light of the radiant Angels filled the area of trees, reaching out from between the branches, like something out of a living story book. Momentarily mesmerized by Starr dancing into the forest with no connection to gravity, Jasper found himself drawn into a day dreamy state. She looked at Jasper and curled her finger for him to follow her. Jasper moved through the bushes and approached. Starr led Jasper to a powerful brook of clear water. Jasper knelt down on one knee at the water’s edge. Cupping his hands, he set it below the water’s surface. The water filled Jasper’s hands and he lifted it to his dirty chapped lips. Sipping the water, it went down his throat cool and refreshing. Remaining Creekside for some time, Jasper drank deep, gaining his strength and energy back.
The beautiful Taila appeared before Jasper and said, “Why don’t we follow the creek together and find out where it comes from?” There was an earthy purity and sweetness in her voice.
“Perhaps I should rest a moment.” Jasper suggested.
“Though you don’t know it yet, Jasper, there is much that still awaits you.” Taila replied in a clear, sightly manner. Then she began to float away up the stony rise.
“Very well. I can take a hint.” Jasper regretted saying as he winced to stand once more. They walked through the tall oak trees that drank plenty along the Creekside to an amazing water fall that cascaded down a monument of stones. The water transcended with such unique beauty before it pooled above a secondary water fall of equally captivation. After the water
draped over a large smooth bolder like a wedding veil, it filtered down around a rock basin of high edges to finally fill a small pool. Cat-tails and bull rushes grew at the sides where the water met the land. Taila passed through the curtain of water and moved up the steep mountain along a ridge of rocks. Biting back his pain, Jasper worked his enflamed limbs to climb to the ridge along the top of the rocks. Hopping from one stone to the next, Jasper continued to follow Taila along the ridge of rocks and found the stones served as a stable pathway.
Taila giggled as she was reunited with her friends. Wilson, Starr, Joel, Elana and Roger danced and sang at the edge of a wide clear lake. They welcomed Taila and Jasper to their jubilee.
“Tell us your opinion, Taila,” Starr called out. “Is this lake not a vision of the one we were at not long ago, in Heaven?”
“Right, Starr. Only, it’s missing our thirsty friend; the tiger.” Taila reminded the others cheerfully, coaxing the others to laugh along with her.
Beyond the lake was a tall monument of stone which was the peak of the mountain. Turning a full three sixty, Jasper saw a wondrous site of the land below him. His fog filled sight made everything seem like pages of photos torn from a book of fantasy illustrations. Finding and recognizing the road that led to Jim’s farm, Jasper chuckled at how tiny it all seemed. Even the town of Princeton didn’t seem so far away, but Jasper remembered the actual distance he walked and reflected on his current situation.
Squinting to capture details better through his poor eyes and focus a great distance away, he could almost see the busy city of Kingston. Even from such a distance, the air was just barely clear enough to see all the way to the Portman Bridge.
Looking over one snowcapped mountain range after the other, Jasper felt like a giant upon the land. Even clouds moved below him slowly and with the sky as clear as it was, Jasper felt he could see as far out as to the ends of the Earth.
The pain in Jasper’s body left him when he focused all of his attention on the magnificent view. Walking around the lake, trying to get a better view, climbing rock protrusions; Jasper came to a great out cropping of stone. There, a single pinnacle of rock, with the shape of a sold wedge, jutted out of the mountain like a plank. The top surface of the stone had been split away so it was flat and Jasper bravely stepped out onto it. Below him the cliff was a vertical wall that fell away six hundred meters.
“What is he doing?” Taila spoke with concern as she flew closer to him protectively.
“Do we agree Jasper is blind? Perhaps he cannot see the danger he is in.” Starr suspected.
“Be not afraid.” Joel told his friends. He was so sure of himself. “Jasper’s purpose isn’t to come all this way and die upon this mountain.”
The wind messed up Jasper’s shaggy hair and threatened to blow him off balance. Below, he could see a mother bald eagle nesting at the top of a withered old tree. The eagle opened its wide wings and glided from its nest. Like a kite it glided in wide circles far below Jasper, yet still very high in the mountain. Flying out over the land, like a supreme protector, little escaped its sharp eyes.
Something large moved through Jasper. It was Joel. He ran the length of the protruding rock passing right through Jasper before leaping off the end of it. Joel’s vibrant Angel wings opened wide to carry him through the air. The Angel soared with the eagle like a union of distant friends.
The symbol of Joel’s flight; pure noble freedom.
Jasper imagined what it’d be like to just leap off the edge of the rock. To spread his own wings and glide over the land. Closing his eyes, Jasper held his arms out stretched at his sides. The wind passed through his arms and fingers. Feeling truly blessed, Jasper understood what it meant to be free in the secure and protective hand of the Lord.
Like a great bird of light, the Holy Spirit descended upon Jasper delivering knowledge and wisdom. During this time, the Angels carefully led him back along the stone plank to safety.
Opening his eyes Jasper found he had stepped all the way back to the edge of the lake. His fingers; cold, as awareness returned to him. Realizing he needed to make some preparations, Jasper was enthusiastic to get started right away.
Recognizing Jasper had been enlightened by God’s Spirit of Holiness, on the stone plank, the Angels came to him for instructions. The first thing Jasper conveyed was the necessity to build a great fire. He directed the Angels back to where he slept, at the rock that hung over another like a natural shelter.
Gathering wood, Jasper made a pile. Rubbing a long dry stick between his hands like he learned in boy scouts, he created friction. Jasper spun the stick back and forth for a long time. Wilson suggested the use of pine resin with his tinder to help ignite a spark and start a flame. Jasper’s efforts paid off when the friction finally started to smoke and spark an ember. Dropping dried moss on the ember, Jasper spun the stick back and forth all the more. In no time, a large crackling fire blazed to life. Jasper was so thankful as he huddled in close to the warmth.
The Angels cheered in celebration and broke into song. Excited, watching the flame take off and engulfed his pile of wood, Jasper tried to remember another time when he felt so good and alive. The Angels were so enlightening and entertaining that when they invited Jasper to dance with them around the fire he quickly gave into the foolishness of his Angelic friends. It was easy for him to be so childish with nobody watching, but, he knew, if someone did see him, they’d think he was crazy. At times, while Jasper enjoyed being with the young and vigorous Angels, he wondered how old they really were.
During her expressive dance, Taila looked around at their surroundings and said. “Jasper, tell me your limited vision cannot keep you from seeing how wondrous this place is? Truly, this forest is blessed. Oh, yes, it surely is, and Holy. Demons don’t bother with us here.”
“What shall we call this place, Jasper?” Elana asked with giddy excitement.
“Oh, no, I don’t think I’m the person to name anything or anyone.” Jasper told them, lifting the palms of his hands defensively, “Why don’t you choose. You would all be much better at this sort of thing than me.”
Starr responded to Jasper when she began to sing;
“What is in a name?
Not one’s quite the same.
An identity to secure a unity.
Not one’s quite the same.
Yay, we must have a name.”
The other Angels began to join in. Each of them singing out names of other important places they knew;
“Kingdom of Heaven,”
“New Jerusalem,”
“The Throne of God,”
“The Abode of the Blessed,”
“City Celestial,”
“The Holy City,”
“Eden,”
“Zion,”
“Paradise,”
“Elysium,”
“Your Eternal Home,”
“Heaven,”
Jasper; so moved by the song of the Angels, closed his eyes, and a spirit of Holiness came over him again. Opening his eyes, Jasper clearly spoke, “Ceramecy.”
At the mention of this name, the Angels raised their voices. Their song grew only more magnificent in dedication to the blessed land of Ceramecy. Jasper translated the name to mean, a special place on earth.
After celebrating, the Angels instructed Jasper how to fashion a shelter. First they had Jasper move many large stones closer to the outskirts of the fire. The stones would both deflect and retain the heat.
As the day drew into the evening, Jasper became worried. He wanted to accomplish so much more before he rested his head for the night. Hungry; Jasper went to the creek for more water. While he was there drinking water from his hand, Elana rose up out from the stream where he drank. Only her head and shoulders arose. Elana looked into Jasper’s eyes with a penetrating stare. Her forehead creased.
“Uh, what is it?” Jasper asked, shaking the water free from his hands.
“Are you not hungry?” she asked with such kindness.
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br /> “Yes, of course, I’m starving.” Jasper answered her, slightly annoyed to have to tell Elana something so obvious.
“Well, why don’t you eat?” Elana asked as though Jasper would suddenly and miraculously find food prepared at his feet.
“Eat? Eat what? There is nothing here but sticks and stones.” Jasper hoped he wasn’t too rude as he imagined the Angels having some magical means to feed him a full course meal like the ones Jim would prepare for him. The other Angels approached, and when Jasper noticed this his voice dropped a notch. “You guys dragged me out here to the middle of nowhere!? Of course I am very hungry. It’s not my plan to die out here.” He turned away dismissively.
The Angels gazed upon him with such love, and warmth in their eyes. “And that isn’t our plan either. Don’t lose faith, Jasper.” But, Jasper wasn’t interested in faith anymore. He couldn’t eat it. He didn’t even care how much they cared for him at this point. Frustrated, he could feel himself entering survival mode, desperate for food.
After a short pause, Wilson said, “Even here, though it is nowhere, everything you need has been provided for you.”
“Look closer.” Elana perked up, “Open your mind and you may open your eyes to much more that is here, all around us. Once you free your mind, you will be free from your problem.”
Elana wasn’t making much sense to Jasper, when suddenly he understood, “You mean, I need to have faith and believe that my problem really isn’t a problem at all?” He felt uncomfortably riddled with uncertainty over what was happening.
“This wisdom hasn’t come to you by your own efforts. The Spirit of God speaks and you hear him.” Looking down at a green plant that was growing at the edge of the creek, Elana stretched her hands out and moved her open palms over the plant in a circular motion. “You see this plant? It is called, Water Crest. You can eat it. It’s very healthy.”
At these words, Jasper tore the plant out of the ground and examined it in his hands. He was about to eat it when he remembered farmer Jim. “You know, Jim would tell me to give thanks to the Lord before I ate. I miss having him around.” Jasper looked to the sky, past the tall trees and said, “Thank you Lord for loving me enough to nourish my body when it was required, Amen.” For a moment, Jasper wondered what his prayer might have meant to the Angels, for they didn’t have bodies. Plucking off a small leaf, Jasper ate it. The flavor was evocative and spicy, as though hot and peppery. Surprised at how much he enjoyed it, Jasper asked, “Why didn’t you tell me this earlier? This plant is delicious!”
“Starr brought you right to it when you awoke, but you just drank the water. Ever since you entered the forest, you haven’t asked us for food.” Elana told him. “Be mindful to make your needs known to God through prayer.”
Jasper didn’t believe he would receive food even if he asked for it. “Why would you Angels be concerned with food? You don’t have bodies.”
“We eat of the Spirit. It isn’t the same but it is twice as sweet.” Taila explained happily. “We have always been interested in food for the body. It fascinates us. Through you, we can understand what you mean to eat.”
Jasper liked the water Crest and ate the whole thing. “Elana?” Jasper said. He was still hungry and thought, ‘This time I’ll ask,’ “Is there anything else around here I can eat?”
“Yes, Jasper. There are plenty of other food sources and you don’t have to go very far to find them.” Elana told him as she mystically rose out of the clear creekwater entirely.
“Jasper!” Joel called to him as he descended from the tree tops to the bushes below, “Try these.”
Jasper rose up and looked in the direction of Joel’s voice. Joel was a short distance away examining a tree branch. Jasper took hold of the branch and studied it as well.
“These are edible wild grapes. They’re also known as Arizona grapes. In Autumn, you can eat the fruit and in the winter when there is no fruit, you can eat the leaves.” Joel explained happily.
Jasper took a small grape from the branch and ate it. The taste was very sweet.
“My friend, Jasper!” called another voice. Jasper responded to find Roger half phased in the ground next to some large leafy plants. “Dig this up and pull out the roots.”
Jasper did as he was instructed. The leaves that grew out of the ground were very large. “I could make clothes out of these leaves, they’re so huge.” Jasper commented as he tried to seem brilliant by finding a secondary use for the leaves.
The group of ladies giggled before Starr said, “Where do you think we are? The Garden of Eden?” The ladies giggled some more. Wind whipped at Starr’s long hair, blowing strands of it across her delicate face.
Jasper pulled the roots free from the earth. As he walked over to the creek, he patted off clumps of dirt from the root. Jasper knelt down at the creek side and washed the roots off in the water.
“This is a Burdock leaf, Jasper.” Roger submitted with one eyebrow cocked. “Don’t eat the leaf but the roots are good raw or cooked. Most people have eaten them cooked in the past.”
Jasper wondered just how far into the past the Angel was referring. He knew he had no means of boiling water at this time, so he bit the root and ate it. It sounded like he was eating a carrot. Later he would try to roast it over the fire. Jasper wasn’t sure if the strange food tasted good, or if it seemed to taste good because he was so hungry.
As Jasper ate, Joel said, “Flowers and Angels drift in color, illuminating spring and setting it free.”
Then Jasper stopped to look at a wildflower growing on its own amongst a steep stone ridge, “So innocent and delicate, how could something so fragile be created naturally? How can it exist in such an abrasive world as this?”
“We Angels do bring you gifts in the riches of love, laughter and happiness.” Taila wanted to show Jasper something. She led Jasper back up the creek side to the base of the twin water falls, again to the basin. There she pointed out the cat-tails that grew out of the water at the edge of the rock basin. “These are Cat-tails.” Taila explained, “They have long green prongs that grow up high. You can weave them together for use in a shelter or to create a sleeping mat, or even a curtain.”
“Can I eat it?” Jasper asked, holding it close to his mouth.
“No.” replied Taila.
“How about these fuzzy brown cigars that grow at the top?” Jasper suggested.
“No, definitely not,” answered Taila in good cheer. “But you could dig one up and eat the stock at its base, but don’t eat the root. Just the stock.”
Jasper dug one out and ate the white stock. It tasted very good, indeed. The Angels said they could show him much more in the morning but the evening light was just growing too dim and Jasper had to get back to the fire.
Before Jasper left the rock pool, at the base of the waterfall, he dug out an arm load of the cat-tails and carried them with him, back to the fire.
“You know, there are poor people out in the world who could really benefit from your instructions. I mean, I would have starved out here just because of a simple lack of knowledge.” Jasper explained.
“Angels have directed man in such ways since the beginning of time.” Roger reasoned, “If not for God and his divine intervention, man would have been extinct thousands of years ago.”
Amazed and contented, Jasper sat near the fire and enjoyed the heat while he separated the stalks from the stiff green prongs. During the time Jasper chewed on the stalks, he tried to weave the green prongs together. At this time, the Angels began to speak.
“Just look at this fire.” Joel said, “It is truly magnificent.”
“Yes, you’re right.” Wilson agreed, “Jasper, watch how the smoke rises from each fire that you make. It will give you an idea of how stable the air is. If the smoke rises straight up, high pressure is likely in the area with stable air. If the smoke curls or moves up and down, or if it hugs the ground, then unstable air has moved in and rain could be on the way.”
“Wilson i
s telling you about the signs of the weather.” Roger told Jasper, “This will be extremely helpful to you, now that you are out here where you must brave the elements.”
“I think I’ll be just fine here for a while with a fire and the company of you fine Angels.” Jasper complimented them.
“What if a storm rolls in and you’re not prepared for it?” Roger asked. “Your fire wouldn’t last and if it did, strong winds and rain won’t make it very helpful to you.”
“Sure, okay, if you have some more information for me, I will listen carefully to all you have to say.”
Joel laughed and said, “Soft clouds and gleeful skies court the gracious gliding Angels.”
“Do you know some of the more current proverbs about weather which have been used throughout the world?” Wilson asked. “Like this one; Mackerel scales and mare’s tails make lofty ships carry low sails?”
“Uh, no I haven’t heard that one, but I do know this one.” Jasper recited, “Red skies at night, sailor’s delight. Red skies in morning, sailors take warning.”
“That is very good, Jasper.” Taila said, “But that saying was designed for sailors at sea and you are in the mountains. Some Native Americans have said; ‘When the clouds hang on the mountain after the rain and the sun shines on top of the mountain,” meaning the storm has passed.’”
Starr flew into the fire and said, “Tracing the sky, the painter’s brush, the winds around you soon will rush.”
Elana rose up over Starr and opened her magnificent wings in the cloud of smoke, “When the grass is dry in morning light, look for rain before the night. When the dew is on the grass, rain will never come to pass.”
“What does that mean Elana?” Jasper asked.
“It means,” Elana answered Jasper kindly, “Conditions that favor dew on the grass, don’t favor wide spread precipitation.”
Joel wanted to somehow get in on the action, “‘When the ditch in the pond offends the nose, look for rain and stormy blows.’ This means, more odors may mean a low pressure is arriving allowing smells to escape that were formerly held captive by high pressure.”
“Beware of wind shifts,” Wilson instructed, “Especially if the wind blows from the south. It can be the arrival of a low pressure area because low pressure areas rotate counter clockwise. High pressure winds are from the north and move clockwise. These sayings are good for identifying the signs of weather, and if you can keep them deep in your mind and in your heart, they may assist you effectively before you’re taken by surprise.”
Joel approached Jasper and at such close proximity, Jasper was able to see a great deal of detail in the golden crown embedded in his chest plate. This time when Joel spoke it was intimate and with great care. The way he pronounced his words were meaningful as though of royal descent, “We speak of weather patterns and predictions, but I must tell you, we were sent here to accomplish a secret mission. Yes, we are here for you. Somehow it’s all linked to you though it isn’t clear how yet.”
“A secret mission? Can you tell me what that is?” Jasper probed.
Joel smiled, “It is so secret, even we don’t have all the details. When I first learned about it from God, I expected you to have some kind of supernatural ability to manipulate the weather. As it is I can only warn you about the dangers surrounding a series of shifts concerning this planet’s climate.”
“The weather? Like globally? And you think I can do something about it?” Jasper asked with growing skepticism.
“You aren’t alone, Jasper. We’re with you.” Taila added.
“Will we solve this problem?” Jasper tested the Angels.
“That is completely up to you and the rest of human kind.” Joel told him confidently.
Then Starr spoke to Jasper with a twinkle in her eye, “We will instruct you to read all manner of signs of the sky.” Jasper was swayed by her fairness of ghostly apparel. “The wings of Angels hide in the winds to kiss your face and light up your eyes.” Starr flared her blue eyes comically.
‘Ouch, she’s so beautiful.’ He mused.
The evening grew late and Jasper enjoyed every moment he spent in the company of his close friends. As they sat around the fire, they made a circle of Seven. Each one told a wonderful and compelling story which took place in Heaven. Some were love stories and others consisted of some spiritual warfare. With each story, a visual representation was conveyed through the flames of the fire.
Jasper simply told a story of his childhood. He recalled a time when he was only a toddler. His parents were involved in a vehicle accident where his parents walked away with minimal cuts and bruises. Their son, Jasper had no injuries at all. “You had a powerful guardian Angel watching over you. When we met him, he was most impressive.” Roger explained. “There was a time when we, Seven friends, fought the opposing forces of a terrible dark evil. You met them already, the Insufferable Six; Morbidant, Krustatious, Wengroangrinch, Gewgaw, Diolucious and the giant Vyxcious.
“In order to hold them at bay to protect a new born baby, we fought them viciously for a straight sixteen years. We were the child’s only hope of survival, but we failed. Not only were we defeated by those insolent agents of darkness but they ended the child’s life before he could fulfill what The Lord had planned for him. In a moment of despair, the young man gave into the words of the Insufferable Six and he took his own life. We had a long time to reflect on this failure in Heaven. Though the Demons are powerful, cunning and sneaky, we were defeated time and time again by them. The boy gave more attention to negative thoughts than the positive. He was receptive of the darkness more than the light. This is how it was explained to us, but we see only the failure, the rest is just excuses. Nothing can mend the deep sorrow we each feel for the time we invested in the boy. From our failure, the Lord took us back to Heaven where we have awaited his calling so we may be in his service again. To lose the boy after all we sacrificed was a true test of who we really are and what our limitations were. The Lord believed we were ready for other missions, but in truth, we have all been worried we would fail again. Countless times we’ve let such an honor pass us by. It wasn’t until the South Gate opened and we were sent here to you, that we have partaken in such an honorable opportunity to be in service of the Lord again.”
“I obviously have a lot to learn about you Angels.” Jasper told them, “I always thought of Heaven as a boring place where everyone sat around on tuffs of clouds listening to slow music played on harps.”
“What’s wrong with a harp?” Joel spoke up, Jasper chuckled bashfully, “No, no, rather, we sound the horns in a blaze of jubilee before we praise God, celebrate amongst our kin or enter the battle against the Armies of Darkness!”
Then Jasper asked a very odd question, “Why is there a Heaven, a Hell and an earth? Why doesn’t God just put Heaven and Hell aside and focus on earth alone?”
The Angels smiled at one another as they decided which one of them would answer Jasper.
“Heaven was created for those who love the Lord.” Starr began.
“Hell is for any eternal soul who rejects the Lord.” Roger added.
Then Wilson explained, “Earth is the soil where souls are harvested. Here the Lord gives to people the freedom of choice.”
“This freedom is both a gift and a curse but it is your choice that will ultimately determine which of these fates will be yours. This is why people often have a very difficult time seeing the truth.” Elana contributed in conjunction with her companions.
“In a sense, you are your own worst enemies. The Lord’s message to this world is to have faith and seek after Him, but he won’t make that choice for you. You must choose for yourself.” Taila saw fit to interpose.
“Still, divine intervention is available to whomever asks of it. It is by His great love for you that He answers prayer.” Re-enforced Joel.
“And it is to your greater glory when you are put to a test. In times of need, through trials and tribulations, you can rest assured, He’s with you. W
ho can sin too much for God’s forgiveness? No one can do this, just as no one can surprise the Lord. He knows all. People need to stop beating themselves up and go to the Father.” Wilson concluded with his own charming sense of enlightenment.
Opening his eyes to the light of the morning sun, Jasper awoke next to the red coals of the night’s fire. Rising to his knees, he prayed for a blessing on the new day amidst his company of Angels. Insisting on a walk down the mountain to find the Bible he’d dropped through his troubles in the darkness, the Angels told him they knew exactly where the Bible had fallen. Leading Jasper a great distance down the mountain, he tried to mark his path for his return to Ceramecy. Cutting deep gouges into the bark of the trees with a sharp rock, Jasper felt confident along the way.
On their way down the steep mountain side, the Angels revealed a larger assortment of edible plants. Jasper ate snow thistles and dandy lion leaves. These were almost exactly alike and didn’t taste very good, but they were one of the healthiest greens to be consumed.
Jasper was shown chanterelle mushrooms growing nearby and some pine mushrooms. At the base of a thick tree, the Angels showed him Canyon Walnuts. Breaking the husks apart with a rock, Jasper ate, and was surprised with the delicious taste.
Pointing out some Juniper berries, Roger told Jasper; “Only the pink ones are ripe.” Jasper found them to taste like tree sap and honey. Because they were kind of strong, Jasper couldn’t eat too many of them at one time.
Elana found Manzanita, which was a Spanish berry that means ‘Little Apple.’ Jasper ate some of these and found they were shiny brown berries which actually tasted like little dried apples.
The Seven finally came to the base of a steep ravine. There, the Angels led Jasper right to his Bible where he found it soaking wet and the pages wrinkled, but Jasper knew, if he let his Bible dry out, he would still be able to read it. Jasper began the hike back up to the camp. As he climbed, mostly eating pine nuts, Jasper found they tasted great.
Arriving back at the camp, the Angels were gung-ho to begin the construction process. Jasper wanted to rest, but he made a point not to argue with the Angels. He was submissive to them even if their decisions might lead him to his death. Where Jasper once feared death, he now welcomed it, knowing without a doubt what awaited him on the other side.
Following the instruction of the Angels, Jasper went out collecting various logs, reeds and rocks. He sorted the supplies in an orderly and uniform fashion. Step by step, instructions were provided to Jasper how to fashion tools from sticks and stones.
While Jasper worked, the Angels moved about supervising like the management of one mind. An Angel told Jasper to do one thing, then another Angel would instruct him shortly after to do another task. As complicated and confusing as the jobs were, the Angel’s instructions didn’t contradict one another.
Through songs and dance, the Angels established a beat that Jasper worked to. Within the music were lyrics that referred of safety and construction details in a welcoming manner. Jasper was grateful as he’d never experienced work like this before. He pretended his friend Ned was with him working and experiencing everything as he was.
Later, the Angels provided Jasper rest by the fire. There, they told him unlimited stories. Each one compelling. Many times the stories would grant Jasper visions which explained their stories with perfect and accurate details through imagery in the flames of the fire.
Jasper continued to read passages of the Bible out loud to the Angels who’d begin to speak in greater detail about what was read in the Holy Scriptures. Jasper had no idea how deep the clarity and insight could go. Showing interest in the character of Moses from the Book of the Old Testament; ‘Exodus,’ Jasper wondered, ‘What would it be like, one day, to meet an important historical Bible character, like Moses?’
When Starr heard this she stood up at the fire and shot away into the sky with incredible speed. She returned shortly after with a spirit clad in white robes.
“Greetings to you, young man.” The spirit was ominous and the man had a bushy white beard, “I am Moses. Your friends tell me you have been reading about my life.”
Jasper bowed down to Moses right away. “I am not worthy to be in your presence.” Jasper told him.
“I’m not your God that you should bow down to me.” Moses chuckled with warm fatherly correction. “You’ll find I’m a simple man, but I am also a Father of your Father’s many Fathers. But I think you’ll find this doesn’t make me very different from you.”
“Not different?” Jasper questioned, “The world has changed so much since you lived here. It’s far more complicated and sophisticated. Our economy is advanced, our communications, transportation and even world relations are nothing like they once were when you walked the earth in bodily form. Today, even people are different. We reason differently, think differently and even live more advanced lifestyles.”
“So, Jasper, you can see the wisdom in all of this? I haven’t been asleep throughout the ages. It is nothing but arrogance and foolishness for your generation to believe you are greater than your fore-fathers. You are more sophisticated? Didn’t even the very first man and woman reason the same as you do today?” Moses spoke with confidence and authority.
Jasper took a step back in reverent humility, but Moses didn’t leave him. Rather, he stayed to share his company by the light of Jasper’s fire. Moses, the Angels and Jasper had long conversations that lasted well into the night.
The last thing Moses said to Jasper before he rose back to Heaven, was, “Jasper, you need to go back down to Jim’s farm in the morning. Make sure you do.”