Triumphant!

**Found this story I penned for a writing contest and wanted to share.**

The time was the 1940s in America.  War!  Gradually the grip of the Great Depression loosened as the nightmare that held this country in such terror and horror diminished into a fleeting nightmare as the economy began to hit on all four cylinders.  The New Deal!  The American Dream a reality once more!  As a young couple in love, the thought of hope and a future life together seemed easily within reach.  Closing on our new home in Austin gave us the confidence and security in the fact that very dream can be had upon the strength of a good work ethic.  For isn’t this what America was built on?  Wasn’t it by our resolve and determination, the sweat of our brow, so we were told and had lived out for us that gave the sense that the world could be ours if we simply went after it?  For this is what made us the Greatest Generation.  Soon the reminder came that dreams come at a price as financial, as well as other, struggles beset us.  Still we persevered and sacrificed for what we had.  Lying in bed one evening, drifting in and out of consciousness to frolic in the stardust filled regions of slumber, I felt a presence…someone sitting down on the bed next to me.  So real!  What?  An indentation on my mattress next to me?  What sort of ghoulish phenomenon is unfolding before me?  As my mind processed the shock as answers came slowly, I saw a man of striking appearance.  In a flowing white robe, contrasted only by his coal black eyes and dark wavy hair, he gave the impression that he had been here this whole time waiting for me to acknowledge him.  I was completely at his mercy, barely comprehending or grasping his presence or what was occurring.  He was staring intently into the windows of my soul, peering deeply in my inner-most being.  I was extremely uncomfortable by the actions of the unknown man feeling as if my vulnerable soul lay bare before him for scrutiny, made subject to his intense and searching gaze.  I woke with a start as I was still reeling from the visit with the apparition.  Was this friend or foe?  Over the course of the next few days I spoke of the ordeal with my closest friend Dorothy.  Wow!  You were blessed by the Almighty!  She knew without reservation or hesitation that the visit was from God Himself, and that I was allowed to live to tell about it.  As my mind continued to sort through what had happened, I now believe this was an angel sent to comfort me from the Sovereign Creator of the Universe.  Not even a sparrow can fall to the ground without his knowledge or concern, and that our struggles were noticed and provided for before a petition could be uttered.  Eerily I took this to heart and will never question the supernatural which are normal happenings in the spiritual plane.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Party on the Porch (Amon Carter Museum)

On Saturday, September 30th, I attended the annual Party on the Porch sponsored and hosted by the Amon Carter Museum.  I attended this function about twelve years ago with a friend and his family.  For whatever reason, the festivities fell off my radar till I saw a banner for it a few weeks prior.  Deciding it would be good for me to get out, even if it was alone, I requested a ticket and downloaded it to my phone.  The best part of the shin-dig was it's free of charge!  Yes, you read that correctly.  Both Party on the Porch and the Museum itself are funded by a perpetual trust established upon the death of Amon Carter himself.  (Take that, you other museums who charge an entrance fee!  Because of the lack of admission, I am able to frequent the art gallery as often as I can.)  Free parking for the event was available across the street at the surface lots of the Health Science Center.  (Another plus to showing up for the event.)  There were several people managing the entryway.  On
Read more

Seeking Closure!

Last week I was able to get away from the land of exile in order to visit and spend time with family.  Even though part of our plans for a trip to East Texas fell apart, I very much enjoyed spending three wonderful days with my mother in Yoakum.  During this time, as she still had to work her shifts at the church, I was able to scratch off quite a few items from the bucket list.  Many of these items have been on there for several years awaiting much-needed closure.  On top of the list, but really in no particular order, was to visit the Alchoholics Anonymous group in Victoria where I tried to get sober in 2004.  Even though I didn't recognize anyone in attendance, I did enjoy the time spent in fellowship.  Then a visit was made to Memory Gardens Cemetery where three acquaintances are interred.  One in particular, my friend Amy, was buried there in 2021.  Regretting not being able to attend her funeral services, I made every effort to locate her grave, along with the graves of her m
Read more

Reprieve from the War Front

** This is another letter from my father in Korea during the war of 1950-1953.  My intention in posting these letters is to capture the very personal side of war.  The letter is typed as written.  Any mistakes in grammar, punctuation, and etc. are intentional. 17-Oct-53 Dear Mom & Dad           I have just returned from a splendid seven days leave in Japan.  My seven days were filled with just about everything a person could want in a leave.  Steak, lobster, french fried potatoes, and onions, and many other fried foods.  The special service hotel at which I stayed is the most beautiful in Tokyo, Ga-Jo-En KANKO Hotel.  It is composed of three buildings connected by hallways, five stories high.  It has many facilities such as Grill, Bar, Cocktail Lounge, PX, Game Room, Barber Shop, Dining Room, Wrapping Service, and Dining Room, where meals are very cheap: 15 cent breakfast, 25 cent lunch, 45 cent supper.  The elevators of the Hotel are lined with mother-of-pearl formed into wa
Read more