CHAPTER 11
REACHING THE OTHER END of the bridge, Jasper heard trumpets sound the call to battle. Drums rumbled loud like thunder and the voices from Heaven burst forth singing the song of Victory, Justice and Freedom. Demons of every kind heard Heaven’s drums of war. Panicking, the beasts scurried to hide in fear. As Jasper began entering the city of Kingston, he marveled at the wickedness. The Demonic forces had dug themselves deep into the lifestyles of the people who dwelt there. Leagues of countless Demons stretched into the city amongst the towering buildings for as far as the eye could see. Each of the Demons carried different weapons which was their method of delivering pride, self-righteousness, selfish-ambition, unrighteous judgment, and jealousy. At the center of the city lounged the giant embodiment of evil; the Accuser of the Brethren himself; the Devil. At one glance, seeing what was coming his way, Satan spun around and disappeared into the earth as though he had a secret spiraling staircase accessible to him alone.
The Angels, softly descending from the sky like snow, wove amongst other Angels who swooped in with silver wings whistling through the air like razors. Drawing their swords, the Angels entered the city with authority and force. Infiltrating the sinful city of Kingston, the warriors of light ventured deep into every dark shadow to extract the secrets therein. Accompanying the Angels were spears of glory in the form of light from Heaven. Like an aggressive cancer, the Angels thoroughly worked their way into every pipe, crevasse and corner of the city, dragging every bit of its infectious disease of sinitus into the bright exposure of light.
The enemy’s weapons of treachery, accusation, gossip, slander and faultfinding were deployed in advance of the Demonic army in preparation of their main attack along with an added measure of rejection, bitterness, impatience, unforgiveness and lust. From the doors and corridors, in every direction, howling like monsters, the Demons charged out like some hideous legend of clan conquest. The smaller groups of Imp Scouts who headed out at the frontline were no less as dangerous as the groups of larger Demons who followed.
Jasper walked into the city, happy, confident and at peace despite the fast paced spiritual battle taking place around him. Hayolam even seemed to have a spring in its young step as it trotted merrily along beside its caring master. Jasper looked up at a nearby rundown building. A bald man in the window was looking down at Jasper.
He appeared to live a hard life and he was completely infested with Demons. Shirtless and marked with tattoos and body piercings, there was something more that was off balance about him; something deep inside.
Rising up and leaning out his apartment window, he shook his fist and shouted, “What are you looking at! Get out of here and take your stupid goat with you, ya hillbilly!” The bald man pointed his finger at Jasper and the Demons began to move out of the complex with a concentrated, mind-shattering whoop.
What Jasper saw next was a man who had power to command the forces of darkness. A massive horde of countless Demons began to charge toward Jasper. They growled, howled and gnashed their teeth. Chills riveted throughout Jasper’s tensed body.
Beyond the crowd that flooded toward him, Jasper saw the six Angels disappear into the ground. Letting fear overtake him, Jasper looked at his spiritual armor and was surprised to find it had all but faded away. Wrapping his arms over his head he curled himself over Hayolam, as he waited for the Demons to attack and overtake him.
In the material world, Jasper was curled into a ball in the center of the street as a large delivery truck approached him. Physical and spiritual decimation bore down on him with no hesitation. Six Angels sprung out of the ground with eyes of authority and focus. They wasted no time to exercise their astounding abilities. Surrounding Jasper, the Angels opened their wide wing spans emitting a pure light of Holiness. Extending their wing tips straight up they were celestial symbols of God’s stewards.
Demons were determined to pounce on them in an attempt to snuff out their light. Then they’d take the prize by force; and the prize was Jasper.
At the last second, a silver sword came out of each of the wing tips like switch blades. Razor sharp silver edges came down to meet the Demons. With incredible speed and agility, the Angels swung and slashed their swords. Holding the wing tip hilts of their swords, the Angles were able to weld their blades and hold back the festering wall of Demon attackers.
When the swords of the Demons came at too high a number, the Angels blocked what they could with their wings and wing tip swords. Letting go of their wing tips, the Angels surprised the Demons when they unsheathed the two swords from their belts. Light reflected from the sterling silver blades of the Angel’s swords as they twirled and slashed with unparalleled skill and swift accuracy. Each Angel controlled four swords; one in each hand along with one at each wing tip to carve up twice as many agents of darkness than before and even the odds.
Joel conducted a complicated fighting style, called a dynamic flight series which was a combination of three sword wielding routines that combined the choreography of tumbling sequences and flight elements. With the assistance of his powerful wings he could throw himself into such lethal positions.
Engaging the elite offensive defense, Starr implemented an equally impressive fighting style that was universally the highest competitive choice.
The other Angels fused their own acrobatic tricks to their sword’s play. Carrying out the practice of kicks and spinning leaps to their traditional freestyle techniques, they expressed a battle style of an explosive nature.
The truck swerved around Jasper at the last possible moment. Pedestrians of the city shouted and screamed when they thought Jasper would be struck and killed in front of them. The wind velocity from the truck passing so close gave Jasper the courage to look around. Noticing the Angels surrounding him and protecting him, Jasper’s strength and faith was restored quickly. His spiritual armor brightened when amidst the Angels, fighting back the darkness, Jasper arose with Hayolam in his protective arms.
Shadow Demons rose up out of the windows and from the crest of the roof tops. There, they shot arrows of pride at Jasper. Thinking quickly, Jasper lifted his spiritual shield, protecting himself. The six Angels also lifted their own sterling shields and Jasper was spared from the poisons of the dark arrows.
Weapons of pride were sneaky. Often such an attack caused Angels and earthlings to fall great distances from grace.
The Spirit of Holiness put words into Jasper’s mouth. When the arrows stopped, he lowered his shield and filled his lungs with air. “This city shall be purged of all darkness! Make way for the light!”
These words brought new found strength to the Angels and fear overcame the Demons, causing them to cower away at Jasper’s voice.
Darkness was driven back as daylight lit up the city of Kingston. Morning light stabbed into the darkness. Screams of anguish rose up from the creatures of shadow. Jasper closed his eyes and listened as the Angels carried their raid well off into the depths of the city. Regarding Hayolam in his arms, the warm woolen body of the lamb comforted Jasper.
“Bahhh!” The lamb blurted. Its voice sounding like a small shaky infant.
Jasper opened his eyes again. Taking a deep breath, he began to walk into the city. Worldly people of flesh had no idea of the battle going on around them. The bald man bursted out the main door of the apartment building to meet Jasper face to face on the street. Jasper saw a huge hooded figure behind the bald man. It wasn’t clear what the hooded figure was up to but it certainly wasn’t good.
“Behold I am about to cut you to pieces in front of all these people!” The bald man told him.
The on looking people were worried a fight was about to occur.
“You will do nothing of the sort. I can see who you are… Who you really are… Puppet master…” Jasper couldn’t help but make a scene.
The crowd of people thought they were being entertained by actors. Stuck in the middle of two realities, Jasper carefully ducked and dodged out of the way of Demon’s swords and arrows.
/> Oblivious to the spiritual battle, the on-lookers were caught unaware of how they were being affected by what they saw. Sharing a sense of depression and irritation, none of the people in the city could pin-point exactly why they felt edgy. Noticeably, it took very little to set people off angrily. It was virtually impossible to know that the invisible spiritual battle was the root cause of their negative emotions because rudeness in the big city was the norm. Those who didn’t wear the full armor of God, which was most people, were wounded. Exposed wounds were stabbed again and again in the same place. Most people didn’t wear any armor at all, so people who were struck by an arrow of gossip, began to gossip. Those who were stabbed with bitterness, became bitter and those who were bitten with the poison of lust began to lust.
Jasper’s eyes widened when the figure behind the bald man tore off his cowl. At first, Jasper thought he was looking at a ware-wolf, but despite his dog-like appearance, it was Satan. Jasper recognized him. After his accident this was the first spiritual creature he saw slinking away into the darkness; Goat-like curled horns of ivory, sharp white teeth, hate filled yellow eyes and dark thick hair growing from his reddish brown skin. His long and lanky body was both reptile and mammal. Jasper described the Devil to look like a dragon mutated werewolf with the wings of a bat. The sight of the Prince of Darkness needed no introduction. Tufts of black hair defined the malignant features of despise and displeasure. The yellow haunting eyes of Satan locked onto Jasper as a cold chill ran through him. The slithery forked tongue licked his lips with a hiss as he controlled the bald man like a puppet.
Shouting, the bald man pointed at Jasper and said, “How dare you come to my city like you own it?!”
The six Angels were clearly busy with their own confrontations. The sheer numbers behind the multitudes of Demons were on the move and it was important to keep them moving in order to drive them out of the city.
“You lead a blatant attack!” The bald man spat at Jasper. “Whatever happened to knowledge and defense?”
Wilson shouted to Jasper, “You cannot use the same method as your enemy if you are to succeed at defeating them.”
Jasper nodded at Wilson, understanding what he meant. Then he turned back to the bald man and boldly announced, “We didn’t come here to win a battle! We came to cleanse this city of your filth!” Spiritually, Jasper’s white eyes flashed with light.
The bald man fell backwards but he didn’t stay down. The bald man approached Jasper saying, “Another pagan-like excuse from the so-called ‘enlightened,’ to start a war!”
The bald man growled, “The greatest joke is on you for the blackest heart of darkness is shrouded in the light you believe in so faithfully.”
The bald man said, “Take heed when you think you stand, lest you fall.” Jasper was surprised by these words and the bald man knew it. “What? Should you be shocked that I too know scriptures?” Satan spoke through the bald man. It appeared Jasper was about to be defeated amidst a moment of self-doubt. The Angel’s attention focused a little more on Jasper and his situation. They knew to not interfere. Jasper felt his loyalty and faith were being tested.
“I see through your attempt to deceive me. All you want to do is weaken my faith before God; but this isn’t that day!” Sitting up quickly, Jasper’s eyes flashed again but more intensely this time. “The Lord sets prisoners free!”
The bald man turned away covering his eyes with his hands, “Yauhrrugh!!!” He shouted when he realized the flash-burn had taken his sight.
The crowd of people cheered and clapped believing Jasper and the bald man were advertising a scene from a new live play. Some people in the crowd recorded the show with their phones, until it was clear, Jasper wasn’t acting.
Jasper reached out and called when he realized the bald man was endangered.
Stumbling backwards out into traffic, the bald man was instantly struck by an oncoming motorcyclist. Wailing in defeat and pain, both the bald man and his master, Satan, fell to the road in their own embarrassing defeat. As they screamed, Satan crawled away like a wounded dog and disappeared into the darkness of the city.
The motorcyclist stood up to reclaim his bike, but the bald man remained on the road, face down, not moving. Then blood began to pool on the street around his head.
The motorcyclist removed his helmet and announced, “This man is dead! Call 911!”
As a wash of guilt crashed down over Jasper, he called out in broken despair. “Angels, Angels, what have I done?!” Imperceptibly, the Angels gathered around Jasper. “The mission has failed. I broke one of God’s commandments and killed someone. Oh, no, I’m going to Hell for this for sure!”
“Calm your mind, my friend.” Joel said quickly. His voice was as steady as a surgeon’s hand.
“Have faith not fear. Do you regret this act?” Wilson asked.
“Yes, yes of course I regret it!” Jasper told them. He felt lower than the dirt.
“Do you regret it for your sake or for the sake of this fallen man?” Taila asked.
“I-I guess for both our sakes. Oh, no, how could this’ve happened?”
Starr opened her arms and wings as she rose before him, her demeanor brightened then she said, “Get down on your knees and pray for forgiveness!”
Leaning forward, Jasper did just that. “Lord, hear my prayer! Forgive me Father for taking this man’s life!” Opening his eyes and looking up at Starr in all her radiance, Jasper said, “Amen!”
Starr’s head turned downward in an instant and her eyes opened emitting an intense light. Jasper thought he was about to be ridiculed for uttering an inadequate prayer by her standards, but instead, her radiance subsided and she asked, “How do you feel?”
“Terrible.” He answered.
Star left him with this final statement, “When you can find it in your heart to forgive yourself, so then the Lord your God will forgive you also. Believe that you are forgiven and this mission won’t have failed because of this.”
When Jasper left the area with the bald man still laying on the street, people began to show a growing concern. Finding real blood coming from the bald man’s stomach the call was put out for emergency assistance. The bald man was in serious need of medical attention.
Before the ambulance arrived, the bald man regained consciousness and arose long enough to regurgitate the Demons out of his body and stumbled out of the city of Kingston, never to return.
From the midst of the city, the Demons marched out into the open with a huge bat-like beast bound in chains. The bat-like Demon was the most hideous of all the Demons in Hell, not including the Devil himself. It screamed insanely when it caught sight of the six Angels who came and surrounded Jasper in a semi-circle at his back. Out of its mind and insane with hate and vicious rage, the creature pulled hard against the barbed chains that secured it. The shackles that chained the bat-like beast were released and the wild creature was at last, set free.
The creature took a few wide strides toward Jasper with its long lanky legs, before it stopped and screamed wildly. Its large bony hands lifted to its head to augment its noise. With such a long tongue it couldn’t communicate by forming words.
“Stand your ground!” Wilson commanded the others.
Mysteriously, the bat-like Demon turned from the Angels and began to attack its own kind. Demons came from all over to try to wrestle the thing to the ground, but the bat-like Demon wasn’t so easily overtaken. Fighting back hard, it struck the surrounding Demons with impressive speed and strength. Grabbing the Demons and tossing them away, a horde of the relentless little Imps climbed up on the bat-like creature. Dark blades of countless Demons began cutting at the bat-like creature.
Jasper was the first to recognize the bat-like Demon. He pointed at it and said, “That’s West, isn’t it?”
The Demons managed to recapture the bat-like creature as they shackled it once more in heavy, black, tight fitting chains.
The Angels heard Jasper’s question and reacted with startling realiz
ation, “West?” Wilson echoed with a tone of denial in his voice.
Joel shot an arrow at West to strengthen him but the effect was quite the opposite as the bat-like Demon reeled and toiled in pain. West composed himself and looked at the arrow sticking out from his mid-section. Gripping the burning feathered end of the enemy’s arrow, West tore it out fast.
“West!” Jasper boomed out loudly with Hayolam held tightly in his arms. He began to run toward West. The Angels also began to dart toward their fallen comrade with astounding speed, but they were too late.
Using their swords and conflicting talents in combination with their other miraculous abilities, the Angels managed to defeat and fight off all of the Demons who held West’s chains. Finally, they had him. The hearts of the Angels were encouraged to bring their friend someplace away from the battle to cut his chains, free him and change him back to the West they knew and loved. Sensing a strange aggression within West, the Angels used caution.
Taila, Starr and Elana tried to touch West and speak to him and he began to growl a warning in response. But when Joel, Wilson and Roger lifted the heavy black chains, West pulled back in a vicious manner before roaring at his friends with all his might. The anger and hatred he projected was so powerful, the Angels were dumbfounded.
“West…” Wilson said, “What have they done to you?”
West looked at each one of his old friends in turn as a tear fell from his eye. He tried to reach out to his Angel brethren before a massive amount of Demons swarmed in and pulled West away by his chains. It appeared West willfully went along with them into the shadows and they disappeared under the surface of the earth.
Stunned, the six Angels turned to one another. Looking into each other’s eyes and seeing they were all rattled and distracted by their encounter with West, they looked to Wilson for either an answer, an encouraging word or some form of instruction. They’d settle for anything at that point.
“The enemy is clever and knows an opportunity when he sees one.” Wilson started to say but there was no time for more. Satan appeared charging toward Jasper, forcing a long spear into his stomach. Jasper hunched forward, feeling no pain. Not affected by any assault of the enemy, except for what he perceived, Jasper stood and peered up at Satan. The expression of the great deceiver quickly changed from hatred, to that of being surprised and vulnerable.
Because of this, the entire evil horde focused its attack on the six Angels of Light. Unpredictably, a flaming sword protruded from Jasper’s chest. It reminded the Seven of West’s demise. Such a terrible infliction, Jasper thought he was finished. To his surprise, the long fiery blade jutted out of Jasper’s chest empowered his heart. The sword belonged to Joel, a powerful Angel protector. Passing right through Jasper to slew Satan, Joel, a warrior of peace, opposed the Prince of Darkness. With his feet soaring over his head in a limber gymnastics-style maneuver, Joel somersaulted to Satan. His flaming blades of steal flashed about. The Angel’s fiery sword carved through Satan’s cold heart. The screaming hiss from the Devil’s werewolf face, curdled Jasper’s blood. The long dragon-like body writhed as he tried to hold on as long as he could, but he was defeated, this round. Joel managed to temporarily banish Satan to the realm that he would one day occupy for all eternity. The spirit of Satan dropped through the ground and fell a great distance through the earth to its center core. There, Satan didn’t stop until he plummeted all the way to the unquenchable fires of Hell.
The six Angels surrounded Jasper like protective body guards. After the great battle, the ground was littered with spiritual weapons of both good and evil. Jasper was appalled by the secular carnage. Many Angelic warriors were badly wounded, but none died. Jasper wondered, “Why is there never any dead?”
“Be them Angel or Demon, each with an eternal soul, neither is ever able to vanquish the other entirely. Death comes but once, then the judgment.” Joel explained to Jasper. Looking up they both noticed a powerful Demon appear through a brick wall and charge at them ready to attack with a large black, burned spear. It was one of the Insufferable Six, Vyxcious. Joel stood in front of Jasper to protect him. Reaching for his quiver of arrows, he found it empty. Picking up one of many dark arrows strewn amongst his feet, Joel noticed it was an arrow of pride. He loaded it into his bow and pulled back on the stiff line, but Joel was out of time. Without thinking or deciding, Joel launched the arrow of the enemy. As he saw the arrow penetrate the air, he reasoned, ‘If I am denied a choice in this situation, then I am forced to use the enemy’s weapon against itself. The rules behind this circumstance will bend for me, won’t they?’
Shooting the arrow at the enormous Demon threat, Joel silently prayed he was doing the right thing. It didn’t take long before Joel realized he’d just made a big mistake. The arrow hit the targeted Demon square in its wide chest making the huge Viking, Vyxcious, stronger and more destructive. Joel knew the Holy Spirit of God was disappointed in him, but as Vyxcious slowed to absorb the power and great strength, he raised its fists and roared. Joel used this moment to hold his fists of fire out at the menacing creature and disperse a storm of active blessed fire at Vyxcious’s chest. The Demon screamed in the scorching fire and swung his spear around. Almost by accident, Vyxcious struck Jasper with the spear. Letting go of the rope he used to leash Hayolam, the impact of the powerful Demon physically threw Jasper from where he stood.
People nearby saw Jasper’s body hurtle through the air and over cars as he crossed the street. Taila, Starr, Elana and Roger worked hard to ease Jasper’s landing. His body was directed to a pile of black, roadside garbage bags.
Burned by Joel’s potent blast, the creature recoiled and flew as fast as it could to escape being burned again. When Joel saw Vyxcious reconsider his decision to flee, he blasted the Demon again, but with such a tax of his power, he became immeasurably drained. Looking at Jasper, Joel said, “You see? Your lesson for today; don’t use the enemy’s weapon against him or you risk making him stronger.” After saying this, Joel let his head drop for a moment of rest.
Not physically affected by the Demon’s spear, thanks to his impenetrable armor of God, Jasper rolled over in the garbage to address the Angels. With wild amazement in his eyes and breathing heavily, Jasper asked, “Where to next?” Closing his eyes, Jasper thought. ‘I’ve never liked the city. It’s too busy for me. Too loud; too stinky...’ Then he asked Joel, “You know, I’d be able to think better if I wasn’t so distracted by my hunger. If I ask you for food, will you show me where to find some edible plants?”
“We’ll guide you to a food source. Not so natural, but no less miraculous.” Starr reassured Jasper.
The Angels pointed their fingers all at once and in the same direction; to the east. Jasper looked off in the distance they pointed. Squinting, he saw a door at the bottom of a building with a lineup of people outside of it. Hayolam happily trotted down the sidewalk to Jasper and they walked down the road to the cross walk. Walking past the door, Jasper saw a paper sign which read;
‘Mission’s Outreach Supper. Jesus Welcomes You.’
Jasper walked to the end of the line-up with his lamb while the waiting people watched him carefully. The people of the line were truly needy. Each of them had faces that told stories of their hard lives. Jasper felt compassion for each one of them. Amongst the people was a festival of spiritual activity. Such a mix of Demon and Angel commotion stewed together in the current of colorful emotions, was a sight like nothing Jasper had never seen before.
“What’s tonight’s special?” Someone hollered from the line-up. “Is it lamb chops?” Some people laughed, but not as much as the old man who barked the question.
At those words, a Demon’s arrow of bitterness came whistling out of the shadows. Darting between the crowd of people and Angels. The arrow found its destination when it embedded into Jasper’s chest.
People turned to look at Jasper and his lamb. “Bahhh!” Hayolam responded. Smiling at Jasper, especially the ladies, Jasper warmly smiled back but he d
idn’t keep eye contact with any one of them for long.
With a subtle signal, Jasper called Roger to approach him. Whispering in the Angel’s ear. “Am I supposed to be here?” Jasper asked.
“Of course you’re supposed to be here, otherwise you wouldn’t be here.” Roger answered.
“What I mean is, what is my purpose for being here?” Jasper prodded.
“You’re hungry. Get a free meal; eat.” Roger answered, still clinging to his surreal expression.
“And what? Is that it? Just get some grub? Is there nothing more?” Jasper tried to keep his voice down but because of the cramped line up, people couldn’t help but hear him. It sounded like he was talking to himself. In this place, no one was surprised. The way Jasper looked and smelled, he just fit right in. A few elderly ladies turned to glance at his haggard appearance; but they weren’t smiling anymore.
Wilson appeared next to Jasper, “Inside this place, the person you see me standing behind is the one you are to meet.”
“Someone? Who?” Jasper came back inquisitively.
“You’ll know. The person will find you, and your keen perception will see the person is special, but for now, just relax and find something to eat.” Roger tried to ease Jasper’s curiosity but it was the opposite result.
When Jasper’s turn came to enter the doors, a greeter’s smile fell off his face before he told him. “Pardon me, son, but you cannot bring a pet in here.”
Jasper held the man’s attention with his white murky eyes, “Please sir, the lamb guides me and I am so hungry. Don’t rob a poor blind man of his eyes.”
“Come on, he’s clearly blind! He depends on his pet, besides I like his lamb.” A tall stocky man from the line said.
“Yeah, have a heart!” spoke one of the ladies. More comments came from other compassionate souls.
The mission’s outreach greeter studied Jasper up and down. Authentically poor and desperate, Jasper fit the bill. Not only did Jasper appear to need a bath, badly, but by the condition of his hands and fingernails, he was obviously a man who’d been through some sort of extreme difficulties. “What is the name of your lamb?” the greeter asked.
“I call him, Hayolam.” Jasper answered the man. Reaching down Jasper pet the lamb’s soft woolly head. “His name means, the light of the world.”
The volunteer snorted a laugh as he shook his head and looked at the ground. Looking at Jasper again and noticing his sincerity, he responded, “If he leaves any droppings, you’ll be expected to clean it up and depart from here immediately.”
“Oh, yes, sir. He is very clean, sir. Thank you, sir.” Jasper expressed gratefully and with humility as he began to side step into the building.
“You will clean it up!” The volunteer sternly repeated.
“I will, sir.” Jasper agreed whole heartedly. Hustling inside with the others, Jasper quickly found a place at a table. The food smelled wonderful. Arrows of Demons flew from the shadows, crossing the room randomly. Not far, the volunteers had already prepared a line of assorted warmed metal containers of food. There was mashed potato, potato salad, pork flavored spuds and bean potato soup, yam burgers, potato chips and French fries.
When Jasper’s table was called, each person received a full plate. Everyone had a choice of their favorite potato for desert. Choosing a beverage from their selection of potato juice or water, Jasper took a bottle of farmer fresh potato skin juice before returning to his table.
Through everything, Jasper continued to shine with happiness. Pleased to have a meal prepared and cooked for him, Jasper was about to eat, when one of the volunteers signaled him not to do so. The main speakers squawked with a little feedback from the tall speaker boxes. Then a voice of the function spoke to everyone, “Don’t eat before the others have been seated, please.”
When everyone was seated, an aged Pastor stood up at the microphone and prayed for a blessing over all the people, their food and the evening. With a panoramic sound from every mouth, everyone said, “Amen.”
Jasper savored every bite but the taste of so much potato reminded him how much he missed the taste of fresh baked beans, soup and hotdogs. Hayolam was quite still at Jasper’s side. Little did Jasper know, some of the poor people who sat near him, slipped food under the table to feed the lamb.
A Demon arrow of hopelessness flew past Jasper’s head and hit a sad man through the temple of his head. The sad man’s scalp already looked like a pin cushion of dark spiritual arrows already.
Another man beside him had a Mohawk row of arrows sticking up down the middle of his head.
One person, who sat directly across from Jasper, ate everything off his plate except the pork and beans. He set his plate down on the ground inconspicuously and nudged it over to the lamb with the toe of his shoe. Hayolam ate all of the beans and then he began to eat the paper plate. The person across from Jasper ducked under the table and wrestled his plate out of the lamb’s mouth.
Jasper ducked his head under the table to see what the commotion was. It was dark so he couldn’t see much. The man at the opposite side of the table came up with his crumpled paper plate. “Your pet sure is hungry.” He said with a smirk and a shrug of his shoulders.
“You’re feeding my lamb? Please sir, I don’t want to get kicked out of here.” Jasper explained with concern.
“In these days of ours, you’ll be thanking me for fattening it up for you.” The man stood up from the table and walked off.
Jasper felt terrible, holding his lamb tighter.
A Pastor who headed the outreach was making his way around visiting from table to table. He wanted to introduce himself, greet new faces and offer some enlightenment to the poor souls who came to take part in the meal.
Looking up, Jasper saw the Pastor. Behind the Pastor, young Wilson glided to a stop, folded his wide perfect wings, then turned to smile at Jasper. ‘This was the one.’ He realized.
When the Pastor saw a man had left a seat vacant across from Jasper, he immediately made his way to sit down there. “Hello, sir. God bless you.” When he noticed the white blinded eyes of Jasper, he quickly found a new focal point and acted like he knew nothing of Jasper’s condition.
“And God bless you, Pastor.” Jasper replied sincerely.
“Yes, he does so daily, thank you.” The Pastor noticed Jasper was almost finished his meal.
Wondering, if this was the person he was supposed to be looking for, Jasper figured this would certainly be an unexpected candidate.
“My name is Pastor Reed.” He held out his hand, welcoming Jasper. “And you are?”
“I’m Jasper.” he reached out his hand and shook the Pastor’s.
Smiling, still shaking hands, the Pastor said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jasper. I don’t believe we’ve met. Have you attended one of our outreach meals before?” A gleam in the Pastor’s eyes revealed he saw something special in Jasper right away.
“No, this is my first time here.” Jasper answered. “Actually, it’s my first time ever to attend something like this.”
“Just passing through? Visiting someone special?”
Certain that the person he was sent to meet was Pastor Reed, Jasper said, “Actually, the person I’m here to meet, coincidentally, is y…”
Jasper was cut off by a man in his mid-fifties. “Good evening everyone,” He spoke into the microphone in front of those who attended with a heavy Croatian accent but Jasper could understand him well enough. “I am Pastor Vidmar for those of you who’re here for the first time. God bless you all. It’s our pleasure to serve you this evening. What a glorious sense of passion you can feel when the Lord fills our hearts with blessings for the simple act of giving. It’s my privilege to give. As it’s your privilege as well. The Lord knows all about this. Jesus gave so much when he was here on earth walking and talking amongst us; and he’s still giving today, Amen?”
Voices from other tables repeated, “Amen.”
“I am reminded of the story of when Jesus fed the f
ive thousand. I mean, all they had was five loaves of bread and two fish...” Pastor Vidmar continued on with his message and he read from his Bible, the book of Mathew, Chapter 14, Verses 13 to 21.
Meanwhile, Pastor Reed turned back to Jasper, but before the Pastor could ask his question again, Jasper asked, “So, how long have you been a Pastor?”
“Oh, not very long actually. In fact, I’m not a certified Pastor yet. I am a Pastor in training.” He seemed a little sheepish but he gathered his confidence quickly, “I’m here to help out, but the experience from nights like this will help to shape me for the long term. So, I’ll apologize now, if you find I falter as a Pastor later.”
“I’ll forgive you now, if you do something you regret.” Jasper told him.
“Thank you, Jasper.”
The six Angels began to mingle with the other Angels in the room. The other Angels were there discussing the great battle in the city. Shimmering warrior Angels passed through the hall also but mostly the Angels were guardians. Each one of the guardians watched a specific person. The poor are privileged in the eyes of God, though the poor rarely know it. In the midst of the dim lighting, at the center of the room, amongst the poor folks and the invisible Angels, stood a radiant light of God’s Holy Spirit.
From the shadows, Demons continued to cowardly shoot arrows of hopelessness, bitterness and stress at the poor. Such attacks of darkness were difficult for the Angels to thwart.
Taila bent down so her mouth was near Jasper’s ear. As she spoke, Jasper repeated everything she said, “Have you not prayed for the Lord to direct you in something meaningful?” A sudden volley of different Demon arrows came darting across the room. From the surrounding Angels, a counter attack initiated. Arrows of light, dazzled the darkness with peace and love to calm the ambiance. Such Angelic arrows struck the Pastors, lifting them emotionally. But the efforts of the Angels were outnumbered by the darkness.
Still, despite what Jasper could see, he continued speaking to Pastor Reed, the words he heard from Taila, “Tell me if I’m wrong, but you deeply want to contribute to a cause that will change the world profoundly.”
Pastor Reed seemed uncomfortable as Jasper became louder and the people from the other tables began to take notice of the growing scene.
“Now God calls on you. Do you hear Him?” Jasper asked.
“I’m being called?” Pastor Reed asked humorously. Looking from side to side he felt rather embarrassed as he was sure he was a victim of being punked. Judging by Jasper’s shaggy appearance, he could only imagine what his level of sanity was.
“Yes, leave your belongings behind.” Jasper’s voice began to almost mesmerize the Pastor. “They won’t be of any value to you or your mission. You will be leaving your entire life behind.” Jasper explained from Taila’s instruction.
Young Pastor Reed shook his head a little to clear his mind. Smiling, he couldn’t contain a chuckle. He had no intention of following this dirty bum anywhere. However, the Pastor could clearly recall asking the Lord, in prayer, to recruit him into His service and make the world a better place, but he didn’t expect it to happen like this. For all he knew, it could be a ploy to lead him into a life threatening situation.
“Come! Anyone who feels called!” Jasper continued, now addressing everyone. “You are invited to follow the Lord, all of you who hunger and thirst, and you will be filled.”
Having captured the attention of everyone in the room, Jasper stood up with his lamb nestled in his arms. Pastor Vidmar wasn’t happy to have his sermon interrupted.
A short man with a weathered face and a scraggly dark beard shouted, “Why would we be hungry? We just ate!”
Then others ridiculed Jasper for interrupting the Pastor. No one took Jasper seriously, not even Pastor Reed. Someone threw food at Jasper. A glob of mashed potato slapped against the side of Hayolam’s face. Jasper scooped the food from the side of his lamb’s head. The slop had worked its way into the lamb’s wool. With what Jasper held in his hand, he threw it back in the direction it came.
Big mistake!
The room erupted into chaos. For the poor, it was just a food fight, but Jasper yelled out in fear and ducked under the table. He saw countless Demons spring out of the shadows. They attacked with bows, slings, swords, and fire-balls of negativity. The Angels retaliated with their own arsenal of effective weaponry. Food, arrows and other projectiles crossed paths throughout the room. Jasper saw spiritual weapons affected the poor but the food that was slung passed through the bodies and heads of both Demon and Angel.
Jasper wanted to flee but there seemed to be no escape when the room erupted into a full blown food fight.
Pastor Reed took Jasper by the arm and forcefully escorted him out the main doors where he shoved Jasper out.
“This is no place for pranks young man.” Scolded Pastor Reed.
“I’m not playing a joke, and I’m not crazy. You are mistaken!” Jasper told Pastor Reed. Setting his lamb down on the sidewalk, Jasper turned back to make a final statement to the Pastor, “I will be back tomorrow morning just after sunrise. Perhaps we can do breakfast. This time, you’re going to be looking for me.” With that, Jasper tugged the rope slightly to signal the lamb it was time to go and he walked Hayolam away. Perplexed, Pastor Reed watched Jasper as he walked away. ‘For a blind man, he sure seems to look around a lot,’ the Pastor noticed. Jasper spun his head about as though there was much to see and be aware of. He even pointed to things like he was talking to someone other than his lamb. Looking on, the Pastor observed Jasper until he and his lamb had walked off beyond his sight.
Two Angels remained behind from the rest to stay with Pastor Reed. Joel and Starr worked on the Pastor’s heart so he would think about Jasper’s offer. During the rest of the day, Pastor Reed would see visions of Jasper’s white eyes flash before him. Not only did he feel haunted by the flashes of Jasper’s stare, he would hear whispers of the Angel’s emotions. Between his own inner voice, the Pastor struck-up quite the heated debate within his heart. He couldn’t shake the dispute no matter how hard he tried to distract himself with reading, television or prayer. The Pastor’s sub-conscious thoughts always returned to a moment of wrestling with the idea of pursuing Jasper or letting it go.
Little did the Pastor know, Joel was whispering to his thoughts through his left ear while Starr whispered to his thoughts through his right ear. The only time Pastor Reed felt any peace was when he submitted to the suggestion of following Jasper.