Two hours in His presence!

a note,

Some say, “It seems like only yesterday.” But for me it seems like a lifetime ago that my husband, Mark, and I located to Vancouver Island, BC.  We were young,

optimistic teachers brimming with the Canadian pioneer [go West young man] spirit.  Mark, a PHD Duke University grad [economics] and I, an art teacher, were

excited to discover this majestic island on the west coast of British Columbia. Here we purchased an acreage overlooking the Saanich Inlet, logged some giant fir

trees for the main structure and started the adventure of building our “handmade” ,owner built, home.

A few years later our family was battered with a series of tragedies. Within a three month window my newborn nephew died from birth complications, another especially

 close Nephew died accidentally at age 13, one my brothers was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and one of my two toddlers had an unexplainable medical problem.

My world was spinning out of control and I reacted emotionally to the situation by succumbing to depression and anxiety. It was such an awful dark time that even now

 I choose not to recall it in detail.

Several months later, in desperation, I agreed to go to a friend’s church service in Victoria.’’ Louise, I was raised and confirmed Anglican and

Mark’s Lutheran. We don’t do any of that ‘rollin’ on the floor stuff.” I said, defensively. On the following icy cold Sunday in February I left Mark at home with our two little

boys and headed off to church.

After a long drive down from the mountain anxiousness turned into excited expectation but I had no idea that I was about to have the most beautiful and the most

 awesome experience of my life.

The service started with worship and then the pastor read and explained parts of the book of Acts after which he invited those who needed prayer to come to the alter.

Louise looked at me with embarrassment saying,’’ We don’t do this.’’but I didn’t care…I was up to the front before she could finish the sentence.  

After I lifted my arms to pray two elders put their hands on my shoulders and prayed with me. It was distracting at first but as I focused on praying and less on my

awkwardness what transpired was miraculous.

As if I was dying, my life passed before me and I was aware that although I believed in Jesus I had not lived that way. In  a flash I recognized others who had

seriously hurt me and then from the very core of my spirit I felt total forgiveness towards them and then complete forgiveness of myself also. Suddenly  I was moving through darkness and into

  a bright light. Upon reaching this place I was aware that there were others here also. I remember that no one seemed to notice me and the atmosphere was  very

festive with everybody excited about the person a short distance away. I couldn’t see him up close but I immediately recognized him as JESUS and the scripture

‘’ if only I touch His cloak I shall be healed’’ raced through my being. In the speed of a thought I was then covered in a love so beautiful and rich I cannot describe

it in human terms. At the same time I knew I was in the presence of a GREAT AND MIGHTY KING! And I worshipped Him with every molecule of my being after which

a beautiful language flowed from the depth of my spirit.

For two hours with arms held high I bathed in God’s glory and love!