A Walk to Eternity

It was over in a flash. I never heard a sound. There was no pain, no hurt.

One moment I was there and the next I was here. There was now a divide between me and what was once my reality.

The scene was clear and vivid. It was me laying there my life's blood slowly escaping my body.

But I was not there. I was in this new place.

I turned and looked around. It was misty and warm the was a scent of freshness in the air. I turned back to look across the divide an now the image was dimmer.

I could still see the details. There were others there now ministering to my body in a vain attempt to save my life.

But it was too late as one by one they reconciled my fate, all the time the image grew dimmer.

Soon it was gone.

Where was I? I had full presence of my soul but no idea of where I really was.

What seemed like a path lay before me and I began to walk.

It seemed like hours, but then in the distance something was there. A man. He looked at me and spoke, "welcome, your journey is near an end, do not turn back, just a bit further"

Ahead a light shown clearly and I followed it slowly as I had become weary from my journey.

As I turned a corner suddenly there was a great city in distance, and before me a gate. A man surrounded by what appeared to be angles stood at the gate.

The man looked with compassion and said "you have arrived here by your own hand, you may not enter".

I was over taken by an immediate awareness of where I was and at the same time by the terror of what was about to happen.

I could only utter, "Oh no."

All was silent. Silent for so long. All of my life passed before my mind's eye.

Then a voice from behind me, "This one is mine". "He has accepted me".

"I was bruised for his iniquities and I am his sacrifice for all of his sins". "He is mine and I am his now and forever more".

I turned to see, but the light was so bright I could not make out any detail, and then  a hand with large scar in the palm reached out take mine, and the voice said "open the gate that we may enter".

And all the angels said welcome.

----- Judith Sears

Waters Personification by Judith A. Sears

An illustration of Matthew 14:22-33 from the waters point of view. 

The waters knew His step
in the instant of contact
the winds knew His prayer
whispered late into the night
the mountain knew His descent
the dawn, about to wake,
could sense Him
the lake blessed each stride
each foots impact
the waters tension held - unbroken
delighted to have been His path
to have seen His way
fearless confidence buoyed
a long way from land
accompanied by the turbulent wind
He went out
to those full of fear
and wonder caught them up
and He dismissed the wind
the restless admiring wind
and all worshipped Him.
The wave-reflected sun rising
illuminated the Son of God
walking brilliant on the water
the humble willing water
truly quenched with adoration.

©2012 Judith A. Sears

Glorious Presence by Judith A. Sears

 From Exodus 33:18-23

It was Moses who demanded
“Now show me your glory.”
And God agreed
with conditions.
So I thought… for me
pressed into the cleft
God’s hand covering me
hiding my face
from His expression
unable to see unable to comprehend
too delicate to survive knowing
would it have burned me
blinded me taken my breath away
would I have melted turned to ice or
would I have combusted disintegrated.
Would I have been frightened
or supremely elated - terrified or euphoric
lost to earth, transported
instead, because I am simple,
and easily distracted
I’d focus on what was before me
I’d see the rocky layers of His mountain
flint granite limestone quartz
perhaps sapphires
gold silver diamonds
a mighty construction
declaring the legend
of earth’s formation
was this what He meant
for me and Moses to see.
As relevant to us now
as what we will know in heaven.
Pressed into the cold cleft
children of God
covered with His hand
sheltered in His creation
made warm with His story.
Still it is hard to resist glancing
when he removes his hand
and we see his back as he passes
we are eager to be among those
on whom he will have mercy.

©2/2012 Judith A. Sears