by Dan Edmund
Chapter 25 - Confusion
Even after the Light had gone, people were still gazing up, their bodies still aglow with that faint aura that took at least another minute or so before it too faded away. Yet, the fire of community ecstasy remained aglow. This time, we not only saw a celestial vision, we were actually within it, seemingly standing amidst that heavenly scene. I too would have been as jubilant as the rest, had it not been for those other scenes, scenes that had left me stunned, confused, even horrified. Now, at least, I could understand Harry's reaction - seeing yourself die was not a pleasant thing.
As if in a daze, I watched how Carlos tried in vain to catch the community's attention. Finally, he yelled that magic word of 'resurrection,' and miraculously there was silence. All ears listened; all hearts yearned.
"Joseph Murray!"
A cheer erupted, but none as loud as Sam's. It was the name of his father, a faithful brethren from of old. Amidst the cheers, Sam then ventured towards Anastasis.
Once more there was silence, the whole community eagerly awaiting the announcement of the next name, all that is except me - I knew already who it would be.
"Ron Bristol!"
Another cheer erupted; I groaned from within. Then again there was silence.
"However," Carlos continued, "for some reason, this man will not be resurrected here on Anastasis, but on Mount Eleos, in the place called the 'Wilderness.' Also, I've been told to meet him with someone here in this community, but I don't know who that person is."
"It's certainly not going to be me!" I uttered under my breath.
"However, I was also told that I would meet up with others at Peace Village, which is near the entrance of the Wilderness." Carlos suddenly frowned and shook his head in dismay. "But again, I must admit, I don't know why." Then, just as quickly as his frown appeared, it disappeared. "Oh well, my friends, we all trust in God's direction, and know everything will be revealed to us in good time." Carlos then read out four more names, and four more people were summoned up to Anastasis, all amidst a resumption of cheers, praises and applause.
Finally, Carlos announced: "Oh, what a night it has been! So, let us rejoice, and wait for our new brethren at the Fellowship Hall!"
There was another great cheer, then all went off with Carlos. Only my parents and I remained.
My father placed his arm around me. "Come on, son, let's go and join the others!"
I shook my head. "I'd rather go home."
"Home!" my father exclaimed, genuinely confused.
My mother, however, noticing my disturbed condition, gently stroked my cheek. "Oh, I understand. But don't be too disappointed. I'm sure she'll be announced next time."
I nodded. "But I have something else to tell you, something that will not make much sense to either of you."
"What is it, son?" my father asked.
However, I could see that they were still on a high. "No! I'll tell you later, when you come back from the Fellowship Hall. I'll go home instead."
And home I went, and waited, and brooded, knowing full well what their response would be. Finally, they came, and so I told them, and their response was exactly as I had predicted. They were dumfounded, particularly Mum. All her previous euphoria now melted away like fallen snow.
"But David!" she almost shrieked. "It seems so strange that you saw all those horrible things whilst we all had such a wonderful vision!" Her frown deepened. "And now you're even telling us that this man that had killed you, has also been resurrected, and that you're somehow to meet him in this place called the Wilderness!"
Dad, although certainly no longer ecstatic, still kept his sense of humor. "Don't worry, honey, at least this man can't kill him again!" He gave a stifled laugh, then, noticing that neither one of us were amused, apologized.
"Oh, never mind, Paul! But, please, go and see Carlos, and bring him here. It seems he's also somehow involved."
Dad gave a sharp nod and left the house.
Cory, who had been lying close by me, now rested his head on my knee. I instinctively patted him. "You know, Mum, I just remembered that Harry had tried to tell me that I would meet up with my murderer."
"But how could he have possibly known?" she asked.
"I think he may also have seen me in a vision, when the Divine Light was here last month. He also said that he had seen himself die, just like I had tonight."
My mother now looked more worried and confused than ever. "Oh, this is all just too much!" Mum then stared at me, not knowing what else to say. The roles had now been reversed, and I had now tried to be the comforter. I held her hand and tried to give her a reassuring smile, but failed miserably. Also, not knowing what else to say, I simply asked for some herbal tea, although the way I now felt, I would have preferred a large glass of whiskey on the rocks.
A little while later, Dad returned with the ever unflappable, ever smiling Carlos. "Ah, what a night it has been!" he exclaimed. "Another wonderful vision, and six resurrections, although one appears to be quite a mystery." Then, still smiling, he looked squarely at me. "And from what your father is telling me, it seems to involve the two of us. So, my friend, please tell me what happened tonight."
I nodded, took a deep breath, then related the entire story once more. Carlos listened carefully, however, never once did he seem shocked in any way. To the contrary, to my surprise, he was constantly smiling and nodding. Finally, when I finished, he exclaimed, "Ah, your visions seem to tie in with mine and, from what you have already told me that other day, with our friend, Harry." He then clapped his hands together and smiled. "Yes, it now all makes sense to me!"
"Then, please, tell us, Carlos, because it doesn't make any sense to me!" my mother pleaded in frustration. She sighed. "Oh, if I didn't know Satan and his demons were now all in the Abyss, I would think they were somehow behind these visions of David, and that strange man, Harry."
Carlos combed back his jet-black hair with his fingers, then chuckled. "Ah, my dear Margaret, don't upset yourself. Until recently, nobody in Paradise had visions of heaven before. However, now within the Divine Light, we all have them!" He gave another chuckle, then added, "As the Book of Proverbs says: 'The path of the just is as a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.'" He shrugged, then smiled. "I think that maybe this light is now shining more brightly on all of us." There was a long pause before Carlos continued. "You see, my friends, I also had some strange visions. I also saw this person who you, David, had also seen."
"Ron Bristol, you mean? The man that killed me!" I exclaimed in a tone that betrayed both my anger, and my apprehension in meeting up with him again.
Carlos, for once, did not smile. "Yes, I know. Like you, I saw him also standing on a barren mountain, but that I recognized as Mount Eleos."
"So, where is this Mount Eleos?" I asked.
"It's in a place called the Wilderness," Carlos replied.
I sighed. "Yes, I know that. But what is this place called the Wilderness?"
My father laughed. "Yeah, it sounds kinda wild, but I've heard that it's a place east of here, son, many miles away. Nobody really lives there. It's kinda like a national park, isn't it, Carlos?"
Carlos smiled. "Yes, very true."
"I heard it said," my father continued, his eyes burning with excitement, "that it's real wild country, full of rugged mountains and wild animals, but all living in peace, like the rest of Paradise. I'd love to go and see that place. I think it really might be one of the wilderness areas of the Cascades. As my folks already know, I was working as a lumberjack in the Cascades, where I had my fatal accident, when I was crushed by a fallen tree." Dad paused, then grinned. "It kinda left me feeling flat!" He laughed raucously at his own joke, but seeing Mum's sullen look, Dad abruptly stopped. "I'm sorry, folks, I guess this is no laughing matter, is it?" Then, looking rather self-consciously towards Carlos, he added, "Please go on, and don't mind me."
"No, there's not too much more to tell except that within the Divine Light I was told by the angel
that this boy was already here in the Wilderness. But, because of his grave sins, even murder, and because the evil still stays with him, he is, as you would say, as if imprisoned there, and not able to leave this barren place without the help of somebody here in our little village." Carlos chuckled, then looked directly at me. "And it seems that somebody is you!"
"But Carlos, this boy killed me!" I protested. "And that's the part I don't understand. How can I help him? Why should I?"
Carlos ruffled his hair and thought for a moment before answering. "When I saw this boy in the vision, with the help of God's Spirit, I could even feel his great anger and hatred. Yet, somehow, I felt something else, something behind this, how would you say, this, this mask of anger, there was some sense of guilt and regret. I think that's what God's Spirit is trying to tell us."
I frowned. "I find that difficult to accept," I told him bluntly.
"Do not judge people too quickly. If God chooses to raise him from the dead, and give him another chance, who are we to deny it? Yes, you may not believe it, but yes, I do believe." He then paused and looked directly at me. "May I read you something from our new sacred scriptures?"
I nodded.
"Ah, Margaret, could I borrow your Paradise Text?"
My mother then went to the shelf and gave the volume to Carlos.
"Thank you, my dear. Just wait a moment until I find it. Ah, here it is." He cleared his throat and read: "'The greatest journey of all is the journey of kindness and unselfish love. The road may seem rocky, the rivers wide, and the mountains high, but at the journey's end, one finds true happiness, as well as God.'" He paused for reflection, then added, "Beautiful words, aren't they? But also very true. Perhaps by helping this boy, you may also be helping yourself, and thus get even more of God's blessing."
I nodded and then immediately thought of Jenny's resurrection as being that added blessing. "All right, Carlos, I'll go."
"And I shall lead you there, and if your parents are willing, they may join us." He then paused and chuckled. "In fact, I remember seeing them in the vision." He then looked at my parents. "Well, my friends, would you like to join us?"
My father, of course, did not need any further prompting. "Yeah, as I said before, I sure would!" He hesitated, then looked at my mother. "You want to come too, don't you, honey?" My mother smiled shyly, then nodded her head. "If that's what God wants me to do."
Carlos's smile beamed even wider. "Good! Then it's all settled!"
"So, when do we go?" I hesitatingly asked.
Carlos grinned. "Why not tomorrow?"
