Welcome Home

"Shut up."

The man was not happy with the idea of being taken away from his home. He had lived there his whole life and it had become a haven of safety. The fact that someone was telling him that it was time to move...it was a bitter pill to swallow.

"I'm not leaving...so get out."

He had been a man of strong conviction, loyalty, and patience. The world had been a playground for him and the passport in his back pocket was filled with the stamps of the world. There were many people who called this man a friend and very few who named him an enemy.

"Get your hands off me! Leave me alone!"

The monitor next to the bed was showing flatline and the medical staff was moving quickly into position. He knew that the time had come and he wasn't ready...there was still to much to do...there was still a life to live...it wasn't time!

"I don't want to go! Let me live! Please!"

The hands on his chest began to pump and oxygen began to flow into his body. The room was filling with people and the noise levels started to rise with anxiety. The eyes staring at him had a sadness to them as if they knew where he was going.

"Just one more day...I beg you...one more..."

A surge of adrenaline pulsed through his body, but then it subsided with no effect. The needle pierced his skin again and he felt the faint feeling of life start to creep into his heart, but then it left as quickly as it came. The stares of sadness began to turn into eyes of cold acceptance.

"No.....not now......I'm.........scared........"

The pressure on his chest began to stop and the cold breath of oxygen ceased to enter his lungs. The noise began to die and the room emptied quietly. The eyes looked above his head and wrote down the time on an official looking pad of paper. A hand patted his shoulder and slowly retreated into the darkness...

"Help! God...please if you are there...come to me now...please...I am so frightened."

A form entered the room and walked slowly over to the bed. A warm feeling enveloped him and he turned his face in the direction of the visitor. A barely audible whisper came through the air and a light brighter than the sun began to creep up the walls. He tried to close his eyes and found that the light seemed to get brighter no matter how hard he attempted to avoid it. The whisper grew louder and he strained to hear it.

"welcome home...welcome home...welcome home..."

The room began to spin and he found himself launched into the air with great force. He panicked and tried to hold onto the bed and realized that it wasn't there anymore.

"welcome home...welcome home...welcome home..."

He began to fall and then realized that he was being supported by the arms of someone with great strength. He turned to see who was holding onto him and found himself staring into the most beautiful eyes that he had ever seen. They were kind and filled with the love only reserved for a child. The light began to move and the room disappeared into a haze of stars. He gazed into the face of this massive being and heard a deep voice rumble inside his head...

"Welcome home my child. Welcome home."

-----------------------------------------------------

My friends do not fear what we cannot see. Revel in the mystery and enjoy the life we are given. This is only part of the journey and the best is yet to come. Love this life and prepare for the next. God Bless.