Turning prayer comes when one stands in the place firmly where God planted his feet. I stand on the edge of the Great Abyss. I meet another soul there and talk with him. We both want to cross over and wonder how, if ever it will be possible. Something in my breast holds firm that it is, but maybe not now. He probably sees it the same way.
Rather than walking together, we separate for a time. I walk north in the direction of the two others I had seen earlier. I am walking perhaps 20 or 30 feet back from the rim, looking occasionally across the wide gap at the green verdure on the other side. I don’t see tropical jungles or heavy green forests; I simply see that there is lushness in the green growth of life over there, whereas I have just come out of a desert.
I am healthy and strong, not depressed or otherwise influenced by much except that I am aware of the burdens of many people I love. My empathy goes out to them. It’s like I can’t communicate what I see. None of those whose burdens I carry believe the chasm can be breached. They seem lost in the world I’ve left behind and unable to see the truth I look at in the distance. Is it the promised land? Then what faith must I have to bring back to them?
As I walk, my eyes are caught by the sparkling of light in the atmosphere across the way. I look to identify the source of disturbance. The sky opens and closes in minute separations of light. I see beings on the other side of the chasm, where the light breaks the scene open. The beings are fighting. It is a battle that I see only in vignettes, in glimpses through rips in the air.
I stop. I am awestruck. I watch intently, seeing only momentarily through openings into another realm that close rapidly. Some of those being fought are driven to the edge of the abyss into which some of fall. Their living bodies flail in the air as they disappear out of sight into the dark fog below. Is this the battle of Good and Evil? Surely it is God’s army that is winning. What am I seeing?
Suddenly a wind comes up from the direction of these scenes. A dark angel flies by, ignoring my presence, followed shortly by another of the same. They are fleeing and their flight is back into the world from which I’ve come. Then a being of great glory comes behind them, carrying a sword. He sees me and lands gently with ease a short distance from me.
“Lord, God!” I exclaim. I fall to my knees but I keep my eyes on his magnificent brightness.
“I am not God. It is God who commands me, mortal man. It is the Lord of Hosts whom you worship. Do not worship me and do not be afraid.”
I was shivering with excitement and had no words of reply.
“You are allowed to see what you see. And you see it with discerning eyes.” He handed me his sword. I took it. It shown brightly in the reflection of his light and was warm to my touch. Then he flew up and went back across the abyss disappearing into a point of light. And I saw no more that day. The scene was back as it had been.
The sword however was real and in my hand. It had weight. It was sharp, very sharp on both sides of its blade. I looked at it a long while. Jewels adorned its handle with inlaid gold and silver. It was both pretty and lethal, I knew though I saw no blood on its blade.
I stuck its point in the soil so that it stood straight up with its handle on top. The guard of its handle met my hands and the height of my forehead as I leaned against it praying on my knees. “O Glorious Father in Heaven, O Lord Jesus who returns and even now leads this fight, show me what to do. Speak in my heart, Lord. Speak in my heart so that I can carry out my part in this great fight. If I’m not allowed over, then make me strong here. Make me strong in faith and fill me with You Divine Courage. I thank You and praise You for this Sword of Truth. Teach me how to wield it. Let me join the fight not relying on myself, but on You. O Lord, I pray by your Holy Name.”
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