Chapter 4 (Heaven)

Chapter 4 (Heaven)

The most busting building in heaven was the Call Reception Center where all the prayers sent heavenward arrived. It was heartening to see the mass volume of earthlings who still believed in something or someone and sent out pleas to the Universe. Whomever the intended receiver they all arrived here, flying in from every country, islands and the sea. They came in the form of thought waves and the especially intense requests were also translucently written on the air. Their words standing out as if on paper, but a hand could brush right through them. 

The greatest portion were directed to Heaven’s Ultimate Post Master or God. With omnipresence he was able to comprehend them all, but fulfilling them was a combined effort.  Many celestial dwellers were assigned to collect, hear/read and distribute these requests to the right team or individual that was best positioned to respond and rectify the need. Some could not be answered yet, or at all. The perimeters were to at least acknowledge each and send down some sort of comfort to help the person struggling get through their tough time. Occasionally a warrior angel was sent to help carry the sufferer’s load for a portion of their journey or keep whatever demons were present in the person’s life at bay for a season. 

Emma’s prayer arrived at this very Center and was received by a young, but quite bright new worker. He quickly found what team was assigned to this young woman and forwarded on her humble request for relief. The message arrived shortly before the fantastic five entered the room ready to hear and act. Christian had not only received and read Emma’s pleading prayer, he had witness what transpired beforehand to precipitate it.

Her above-team congregated in front of the screen. There were actually two screens in the room or space, a large one on the wall that looked like a like a movie projector screen and another nearly as big laying flat on a stand. The wall screen had a remote-like channel changer to access different locations where Emma’s life usually took her. They could also go out of network or area if needed on a heavenly cable system of sorts. The screen they hovered over lay flat on a stand similar to a tabletop with a roller ball control that could change not only the view of the camera-like apparatus they were witnessing, but also bring the images closer or pull back and make the objects further away. Christian had the picture honed in on Maggie’s room and the chair beside her bed. The pain and anguish on Emma’s ashen face was clearly evident. 

The picture splayed before them was not exactly of Norman Rockwell variety. What once was a chic master bedroom adorned in earth tones with king-sized bed topped by thick down-filled comforter, now more closely resembled a disheveled hospital room with no color theme even attempted. No longer was a king bed anywhere to be found. A spartan twin bed was pushed up against a side wall strewn with men’s discarded clothing, the color of the bed spread not readily visible if there was one on it. More in the middle of the room was a fulling functioning hospital bed with the head and knees portions both elevated. Compression socks attached to air with a pump to rotate the pressure accented the foot of the bed. Near the side instead of a bedstead was a tall tray on wheeled stand covered with tissues, ice chips, lotion and medicines to be dispensed in the next few hours. The IV stand was still there attached to the headboard with no fluid hanging at this time.  Instead a  feeding tube protruded from the blankets over the belly portion of the body. 

The other decor in the room consisted of two well worn chairs pushed up close to the bed for visitors to fill while sitting with Emma’s mother. There were a couple of wooden dressers on the opposite and adjoining walls from the twin bed. One with the drawers open and askew, atypical of its tidy owner. The other buried in more medicinal supplies. Much of the crushed brown carpet was also hidden by other medical and therapy units, at first mostly for Maggie, but Arty’s had joined the collect-all room as well. 

A large family canvas with four smiling faces hung on one wall tilted mockingly. On the opposite wall was a painting of a large rugged mountain range, maybe the Alps. Instead of feeling like a refuge or escape, it seemed definitive of the unsurmountable obstacles that faced this family. The Von Trapp family climbed their mountains, but the Lanrete’s lay and sat at the feet of theirs.

If the lens angle widened to include more than this room with the forlorn figure seated at her mother’s sleeping side, the rest of the home emitted a similar vibe. Not dirty, but unkept, like a neglected or less-loved step-child from many a fairytale. But this home was not a fairytale, though if it were it would definitely be of the Grimm genre.

This visual was uploaded immediately to the minds of everyone present. More powerful than the images, they could feel the emotions of everyone below. Every sense of discernment was heightened in heaven, but from this closely evaluated room they were magnified even more. Defeat, gloom and hopelessness wafted heavenward, but only from Emma. Peace was powerfully emitted from her mother. 

Christian did not need to add or explain much, but recapped the current situation they faced. “Brethren and sisters, we have a crisis. Our charge has come to her breaking point and they are not to be given more than they can bear. We have known she was struggling, but somehow we missed the level. It seems she has a plan. If she cannot figure out her purpose, she has decided to end her earthly experience. We have one year, 365 days earth time to help her decide to finish her scheduled stay.” 

May was the first to interject, “That poor baby girl, I can hardly bear to watch this. Why does everything so much more difficult down there?”

“Because, my dear, you know they have forgotten. They do not remember who they are or where they came from.” Ben comforted his bride, “It is our job to remind them.”

“It is tempting to just barge in with a clarion wake up call isn’t it. If we could just pull back the curtain a smidgen and let the light through she would feel immediate comfort.” Lewis always ready to rush in suggested.

Pearl, “But what would she learn from that? Could anyone have turned your path Lewis and dissuaded you from joining the army?”

‘“Probably not”, Lewis admitted, “But I am not a very patient person and I was so headstrong. I think Emma has much more depth and insight than I did at that age. I think reasoning with her would be easier than with my pigheaded self.”

“Oh, Lewis, all of us probably would have done things differently if a wee window to home had been left open for us,” comforted May, “I agreed with you. I have to keep myself from popping into that room and shouting out ‘we are here darling, you will be okay, hang on’.”

“But the magic of the struggle is that it makes you stronger. If things were just handed to us on a plate down there, why even go?” Ben questioned the group.

Pearl, “I am new at all of this, so don’t want to step on toes, not that it would hurt up here, but I agree with Ben, there is a beauty in the struggle…as long as the outcome works out for the best. I suppose if I had witnessed things not work out well a few times, I may feel differently.” 

Christian brought the discussion to a head, “I think the main issue here is time, or lack of it. We do not have years to watch Emma mature and figure things out. We have to condense our efforts into a crash course to help her figure out who she is and her worth on earth.” 

The lighter-than-air environment seemed to evaporate from the sterile room. Time here was not lineal or even measured. One day in their reality was relatable to the equivalency of a thousand years on earth. 365 days would be less than an hour for them. The gravity of the situation descended heavily on their hearts. They would need to get right to work and figure out a specific care plan. Time on earth was not random. Each being who went down was given a designated amount of time to accomplish what they were sent to do. A very few people, only a handful throughout the history of the world, had their time extended due to extenuating circumstances. However time could be shortened by poor choices made. It was their duty to not let that happen. They needed to convince Emma in any manner available that her life was worth living and she had more to do. 

One of the five needed to access the portal to earth immediately. 

Lewis was always willing, “Of course I would love to go do what I can. Say the word and I am off in a minute Chris.” 

“Lewis would probably do a better job than could at this point. I am not sure I am really ready.” Pearl hesitant and somber, said softly. 

Ben piped up, “May and I love that great granddaughter as one of our own, as you all do too I realize. We are here to support however we can. Either of us would be happy to attend to Emma at this time.”

“Yes, Ben is correct in speaking for both of us, our dear fearless leader,” May lightly added in her supportive, sincere manner, “let us know what you would like any of us to do.” 

It was Christian’s call to make. The team worked more from volunteer mentality. Each team had it’s own working personality and theirs was peaceful, sometimes playful, yet always productive with a more unilateral decision making style. None of them were egomaniacs and each held Emma’s best interest in mind. It was heaven after all, but each person still arrived with their unique personalities originating from earth and before, so there were still conflicts, most easily resolved. In unison each member of the team turned towards Christian for direction.