1. Chapter 1 (1/2)

a/n:

i wrote the beginning of this some years ago, when my imagination was

in overdrive and i was almost as enthralled about jesus as i hope to

become as i discover his new mercies each day.

i

originally intended this to be in the middle of a longer story, but

seeing how i never followed up on that, we'll all just have to see

just where it goes. i've elaborated on some of the points already

written to reflect the creative and spiritual maturity i'm at now

versus from when i first wrote it. the rest is drastically recent.

(g) as in, just now.

i'll

leave you to it now. your imagination will, i hope, soon be

overflowing with colorful wonderment.

meeting

him

i

gaze at the water, a big sea of blue crystal. the sun is slowly

rising, giving off beautiful hues of the yellow and orange it so

ightly shines as it reflects off the water. i gaze around in quiet

wonder and drink in the awesomely beautiful surroundings i find

myself in. the trees bountiful in leaves, colorful flowers blooming

in the most random places, the sand peacefully smooth beneath my

feet. i look up at the clouds, scattered about the immense sky in

which they dwell. they drift ever so slowly, travelling wherever the

wind sees fit to take them on its own wandering odyssey.

it

is peaceful here. it's gentleness and serenity calm my soul to the

core. i close my eyes and

eathe in deep. the fresh sea air is

delightfully delicious to my lungs, the salt giving it some flavor.

then

i sense a presence behind me. startled, i turn around. in front of me

a little distance away stands a man. he is staring at me, and i can

only wonder why. at first i can't put a finger on who he is. he is

fair and of tall stature. he has longer hair than i would expect an

older man to have. i gaze at his form and an array of emotions flood

over me like a tidal wave. his very essence exudes grace and

kindness, and he seems to simply.... glow.

then

i recognize him.

i

gasp, a wide smile growing on my face. can it be?

never

in a million years would i have expect him to be here.

i must have gone back in time. have i? i question myself. either

that, or perhaps i'm in heaven. my surroundings certainly is

beautiful enough to be mistaken as such. i start walking, ever so

slowly. my head is having difficulty believing what my eyes see, what

my heart wants so much to believe. my head receives confirmation of

my location in the physical realm with each step i take.

his

loving smile grows into an all-out grin as he sees the light turning

on inside my head.

"lord?"

i whisper. i run to him, throwing myself at his feet. i bow my head,

tears streaming down. i am so happy, i cannot contain what joy my

heart possesses. he caresses my head, tousling my hair. i laugh

through my tears as i feel my hairs move under his touch. to think

that he knows the very number of the hairs he is currently mussing. i

tenderly touch his feet. my fingers graze the scar on one foot, my

eyes finding the identical scar on the other.

he

takes my hand in his, gesturing for me to stand.

"my

child." i lift my head and look upon his face, the experience