God with us

In the Last days of January 2016 father Antony was wondering where he could find a person or persons who would be able to clear the badly overgrown Church garden He had inherited just two months before, he had; had the idea for a while as He could see the sizable piece of earth  could be put to use growing fruit and vegetables for the homeless and hungry around his area
He also planned to to celebrate the mass there in the more clement summer months, but it was this morning his intention had crystallized into action, he had pulled out an advertizing volume from his shelf as he had some time before he said mass, and was leafing through looking at the various service providers, he was not sure a "gardener would be the best choice
This garden if ihe could  described it as such? Was more of a jungle really!

Just then the doorbell of his front door rang, it only being a matter yards from his office he was soon there; opening the door he saw a solid looking man of mature years, then extending his hand to shake the man's hand he said "how good to meet you". The man seemed quite surprised at this greeting and looking round seemed to notice their kindergarten sign, He then said I am not one of the parents if you have an appointment with this he produced a piece of paper that related to tree and garden works   my name is Tom, and I am here on business you see' he elaborated with a friendly smile, yes replied father Antony it so happens I was just thinking to get advice and a costing, on clearing out our rather overgrown garden, would you be able to look now? Yes,yes of course Tom replied,  "if you can follow me then."  Said the father waving Tom through the door, he led the way along the hall that led to the rear door saying halfway along ; I cant be too long as I say mass in thirty minutes,  he was soon opening the door and they stepped out into the wildly overgrown garden, Tom began to pace around peering through the undergrowth trying to get an idea of the area size, father Antony said I have only been here two months or so I thought it best to see the worst of the winter out of the way before getting the work done" At this point Tom fixed eyes with him and said Last year I saw the Holy Spirit! At this news the father positively beamed.! especially as he intended to welcome the Holy Spirit into very same garden ' well intended garden anyway' to celebrate the mass there,  then the father spoke saying to Tom so you saw the light waves then? At these words Toms body jumped in shock! Well I saw rather more than that he replied for that was just the initial stage; I saw all the light waves turn liquid
So bright and He poured out of Himself and anything He contacted was dissolved I was expecting to go next,  you see' then the air itself drew back and how could you say? it was in reverence to Him, then after a time  He just rolled back into the atmosphere, and everything was as before, but I never expected your description I would have guessed
You might have mentioned a plume of smoke or pillar of fire; like He was before the Israelites in the wilderness; but you have touched on my personal experience.! Have you seen then? No replied the father; I have not been so fortunate though I would love to see' but I know of others. You do said Tom? Well how many with this he held out his left hand and began to make a count with the forefinger of his right hand, one-two-three-four-five-six-seven he began to falter, looking at the father, who said keep going with a smile Tom told the father when he returned to do the garden, that he thought at the point when he began his finger count that he was being 'humored' he being a larger man and the father a slight built man the garden was overgrown and lonely as it were He'd thought the father might have considered him a psychopath or something and was just going along, but no the father was recounting his truth, he told Tom when he came in March to work in the garden  that just after he left on their first meeting he received a phone call from the Catholic head church offering him a team of four gardeners, but he told them he had just the man for the job, the contact between them continues and I hope to be posting a fuller version of other events Tom had had had prior to meeting father Antony and after that.

Copyright © Joe Maverick | Year Posted 2018