Comfort

[alpharaposa]

anher had watch last night from midnight to eight, just when I was asleep.

Wouldn't you know it? The one night he isn't here, I have a bad dream. It featured ghosts and vampires and other horror staples.

You would think that a grown up like myself would have no problem with this. Ghosts are for kids, right? Well, that's not really true. I believe that ghosts might exist*, which is good enough to keep me awake in the middle of the night after a bad dream. And no husband around, because of work.

So, I lay there for a little while, and I prayed. And, even though it helped, it wasn't enough. So, I got up (feeding the cats, who were restless), and opened up the drawer of the nightstand we keep a TV on. The first thing I grabbed was just what I was looking for- my Chrysalis cross**. I slept the rest of the night with the cross in my hand.

Years ago, before I had even met anher, I and several others, youth and adults, were on a trek in Philmont that included a night at Uracca Mesa. The mesa has a lot of ghost stories associated with it, many of them properly scary ones, and the staff members that live there tell them to the campers every night. It's part of the camp program. That night, I also prayed and slept with my hand on a cross- a small jade cross that I'd also been given during my Chrysalis weekend (and since lost, sadly). The next morning, one of the other youth asked my dad how he slept.

He pointed out that, even if there are ghosts and ghouls waiting for us on the mesa, God has promised to keep us safe. No matter how scary the ghost stories are, any ghosts that may attack us are powerless compared to God, and we can sleep easily because of that.

It was exactly what I had told myself- and believed- that night on Uracca Mesa. Last night, I again took comfort in God's power, with the cross in my hand as a physical reminder. Even with faith, I needed the physical presense to banish the last quivers of fear. But with my prayers said and a cross firmly in hand, I slept the rest of the night as easily as the first part.

God will protect us. That's a real comfort at 6 am in an empty house.

*I don't do seances and the like, though. At best, disturbing the dead is rude.

**Chrysalis is part of the Walk to Emmaus program, sponsered by the Upper Room. At the end of a three day retreat, every participant gets a cross on a rainbow-colored string.

Comments

[aefenglommung.livejournal.com]

Ghosts don't bother me, but burglars . . . The other night, I woke up when I heard what I thought was a door slam. I was properly freaked out, and I wondered if I should get up and investigate it. Then I realized that if it had really been something coming from outside, Sassy would be barking her head off. So Cuthbert probably jumped down from something and hit the floor, and Sassy ignored it -- and I did, too.

not about Ghosts ... but about Prayer

[asl-ninja.livejournal.com]

Anher's Canoeing Merit Badge Test

One time, when Anher was about 10 years old we were at Scout camp. I think it was Camp Rodney in Maryland, and he really wanted to do the canoeing merit badge. The only problem was that there was this physical test that each boy had to do on his own in order to qualify to participate; he had to pick up the canoe and carry it ten feet. It didn’t matter how they picked it up or which direction they carried it.

There was a long line of boys waiting to try it and as I stood in the distance watching I saw boys much bigger than Anher not able to pick it up, or not able to carry it the full distance. I was so concerned that Anher would be disappointed if he was unable to do the merit badge.

When it came time for his turn he walked up to the canoe, which was lying on its side. Without hesitation, with the front of his legs against the canoe, he grabbed hold of the rail that ran along the top of the edge of the side of the canoe (the gunwale – pronounced gunn’-ell) and pulled the canoe just barely off the ground! Then, with great effort he leaned back and started backwards, keeping the canoe just off the ground. One step back … then another … then another, until he reached the required distance and then let the canoe down.

He made it! WOW! I ran the distance between us and when I got to him dropped to one knee so we were eye to eye. He had a great smile on his face; me too. I gave him a big hug and exclaimed, “Anher!" That was so awesome! What a great job! How were you able to do what many boys much bigger than you were not able to do?”

His short answer humbled me as his dad, and at the same time gave me great joy. He said simply, “I prayed.”

It was so impressive and inspiring to know that when the going gets tough, Anher knows where to turn for strength beyond himself.