It was late and I was tired, but so restless and worn I could not sleep. “Lord, can I come there and sleep tonight? You said anytime, so I would like to come. I don’t want to be here now.”
I did not hear a no, only an increasing desire to go. I decided to trust that it would be ok. Penny must have caught my mood because she whined, turned over and looked me, like “what’s going on.”
I put on a sweater, checked the lights and off we went. When we arrived it was dusk, but still lots of light. Bear greeted us and led the way. We passed the meadow, and into the space with all the rocks and waterfall. The air was alive as usual but soothing not energizing. The forest was quiet, a bit of a breeze ruffled the greenery.
Bear lead us up towards the waterfall. It was not a great big waterfall, small as waterfalls go, but fairly wide. I could not make out the top because it was all frothy. I had the sense that this was the bottom bit of it, that there were a series of them that came from way up somewhere. But here it ended in the stream that fed the Pond. There were boulders on each side containing it as it fell. The water splashed down, bumping into the rocks creating even more spray. The closer we got to it, the damper the air.
Penny had a funny reaction to the moisture; she licked her lips and stuck her tongue out. I bet she would do that in a snowfall. Bear began to climb the rocks, laid out as big stair steps. I had to help Penny up because they were damp. She couldn’t get enough purchase to jump. I looked and realized that we were headed to a cave. “Bear, is this your home?”
When we got to the top, I looked around. Looking out and down changed my perception. The canopy of the treetops went on and on. I could see about 180 degrees from my perch, and all I could see was green. There was too much in the way to see the meadow, much less the Pond Place. I wondered where the muddy marsh was from here. Not close.
I turned to look into the cave and was surprised to see a cot. Now, I’m not all that fond of caves. Don’t like the idea of being underground or that nasties can lurk in unseen corridors and passages. Fears born from TV and movies. Something always jumped out to scare everyone. Captain Kirk and the intrepid crew took it all in stride, but for me I would prefer to wait in on the control deck.
But my intrepid Penny had not seen the shows and she was exploring. I could see her tail back in the back, so I went in. I had to duck just a bit, but then could stand up. It narrowed toward the back, but no hidden passages. I was relieved. The walls were dry considering we were part way under the waterfall. I could feel the vibrations from the falling water, but they were minor. In the back I found dried grass and twigs. A bed and it smelled like Bear. “This is your cave, and you are going to share it with us, thank you.” I knelt down to give him a hug and an ear scratch. Penny came up to get in on the scratching part.
I looked over the cot. It was hand made with four large round branches or small tree trunks for legs. They matched perfectly. The bed part was about 3 feet off the floor, good height for Penny to jump. The bed of the cot was made from woven straps of something. At first, I thought hide or leather, but that didn’t fit here. Must be a plant fiber. On top was a stuffed mattress; the cover and the blanket were made of the same rough material as Jesus’ tunic. There was even a small pillow. Everything was thought of. Bear didn’t sleep in the bed, so must be for me.
Laying on my side, I could only see the wall and a bit of the entrance. But the cot moved easily. I positioned it so I could look out and see the darkening sky and treetops, rolling onto my right side. Penny hopped up, crawled under the blanket and we settled in. Bear stayed at the entrance, at the head of my bed and began to snore! Guess it is bedtime. I was so glad to be just where I was. I practiced my spiritual breathing, in and out, and fell asleep.
Something woke me up, and it was dark but for a moon sliver and stars. I got up and sat on the top step, the blanket around me. I looked down and the area was filled with dots of light. “Huh?” What am I seeing? Then they moved and went on and off. Synchronized dance. Lightening bugs! Oh my, like when I was a little girl in the Midwest. Summer nights were for catching them and putting them in a Mason jar. The game was to see who could get the most. The trick was to get ones in without the ones in flying out. They were quicker than my little fingers but chasing them was wondrous. Marvelous memories. The warm air, and lightening bugs.
Then I heard the night sounds. Frogs, and crickets, and flying things. Bats most likely, as they like caves. Not this one however, it was Bear’s. The air was alive with sound, night sounds. Again, childhood memories. I felt such peace with it all. I thought of going down to be with them, but there were so many I was concerned that Penny and I might inhale them. Thousands it seemed to me.
Then they began to swirl in a rhythm known only to them. Bunches would come together like sardine’s swarm in a ball in the sea. Round and round and then the round swirls made a circle that was a dance. There was order and purpose to it. Lovely, languid, soft. I could see how people of old would mistake them for fairies dancing. Because that is what it looked like. Dancing wee ones. With the forest sounds and the dancing lights, I dozed off. I found I was leaning against a snoring grizzly bear and a dog was leaning against me snoring. Delightful. Comforting. Just what I needed.
Later I awoke again, a bit cold, cramped and with a sore butt. Hard rocks these were. I looked our and the lightening bugs/fairies had moved to the edges of the forest, making a ring. Now what I wondered. I hope it is the Lord.
The glow began from the middle of the circle. It did not come into the circle from outside, it just was there. Small at first until it almost filled the area. The glow became a light filled with moving colors. Gold, white, peach. They were not the same at any given blink but were always in motion. Undulating in a pattern. It became so bright that I could no longer see the lightning bugs. The trees were lite by the glow. The breeze moved the leaves, and they caught the dancing light so they twinkled. Alive with response. I was entranced. Penny was alert and watching but still next to me. I could feel her quivering a little bit, but so was I. It was wondrous.
The light began to darken at the center, adding violet, aqua, pale green. Then deeper yet with reds, purples, blues, all mixing up and creating new combinations of shades and hues. So smoothly that I didn’t notice how they changed only noted the new. More wonder. The sparkling and the dancing color were almost too much, I felt like I needed to close my eyes, but could not imagine missing anything of this living experience.
The darkness at the center deepened and I could just make out a figure. No angel this, it had to be the Light, the Maker of Light, the Maker of Life. Jesus. And so, it was. The light softened and faded some. He took a step, “Mary Anne, come.”
I felt like I had never seen him before. Like Mary at the tomb on Easter morning, startled in her recognition and then her adoration. Rabboni! Master! I worshiped. “Lord, Lord, you are the Light of the world, and of my life.” I started down the rocky steps. I walked toward him, lost in the moment, and wonder of him. I stepped into the light dancing around me now. I felt it, heard it, tasted it, saw it, smelled it. Life. Active. Creating, cleansing, renewing, restoring.
I felt Penny brush my leg, I smiled. Or course she would come. He was her Creator too. He reached down and picked her up. She was still, looking into his face, ears up, and eyes shining. He reached out his strong right arm and pulled me close. I sighed so deeply, if felt like I had no more air in me.
“Yes, I am your Lord, your Master, your Creator. I am that and more. But here, for you both I am Jesus your Shepherd and Friend. I delight in your company as much as you need mine. This is our place together. I walked in another garden once and lost my companions. Now I am restoring gardens for my redeemed ones. The ones that wish to find me, to walk with me.”
“There are other gardens? Others who come?”
“Yes, many, many, with each one designed with their soul needs in mind. Each one crafted with their memories, needs and heart desires. Unique. The Father, Spirit and I wanted to have time in our creation with our children. So, there are new, unspoiled gardens.”
“Would be just a little like heaven will be?”
“So, like you to ask. I created you with inquisitiveness, and so you ask. Yes, just a foretaste.”
Bear appeared, and I realized that night was gone, day had come. I was refreshed, rested, and re-energized to go back where creation was spoiled. Jesus lingered just a minute as if he did not want to say goodbye. Then he was gone, and Penny and I headed out.
