A Lantern Must Be Lit

“It was as if a still small voice was whispering through a megaphone into her ear, again and again, something big is coming and it’s going to change your life.” “Seasons come. Seasons go. Some seasons are bright and beautiful. Others may be dark and scary at times. But seasons still come, nonetheless. A season evolves and progresses through the journey to fully develop and thrive before the next season follows behind, all the while creating a new and wondrous dimension to our world … The lantern was glimmering that evening. It’s my season.” “I didn’t ask for it. I didn’t expect it. I didn’t want it. But I had it. Cancer.” “Yes, that first batch of chemo ended up being a real zinger. I felt lousy, shaky, wobbly, dopey, exhausted…something like being one of the deranged Seven Dwarfs!” “But people, you don’t understand, I am in extreme pain and so very weak. I need to be put in the hospital now!” “The euphoria of living life to the fullest had awakened my senses to realize there was so much more meaning and purpose to my life.” “The prayers of the righteous were heard by the One Who hears our prayers. He did what only a Holy God can do – a miracle!” “No. No! No!! No!!! Not gonna accept it! I’m not going to accept doom and gloom. I’m a positive person. I’m not falling into that trap of thinking the sky is falling on me.” “All this unknown territory sounded very bizarre and fearfully frightening. Anxiety welled up inside of me as I tried to process all of the seemingly unorthodox and bewildering mass of information. What am I getting myself into, I thought.” “But this is supposed to be my healing! What does this mean? Now what? were all thoughts floating around in my mind during our long drive back home.” “I am an ex-con. Yes, I did my time at the local ER prison, but it was unwarranted. Once I got in, I could not get out until I had served the sentence I was wrongfully accused of.” … “I did the time, but I didn’t do the crime. Though I managed to escape Alcatraz eventually, I vowed never to go near that ER prison again.” “ ‘Day Zero’ was about to take place! ... My lantern was primed and ready to shine bright and clear with the new day dawning.” “…it was as if red lights and sirens were going off, alerting everyone in the land of Oz what we all had been waiting for…” “My speech became disjointed, and I started having hallucinations. At least, that’s what the nurse said I was experiencing. I always thought hallucinations were something like seeing little green men running around. I didn’t see any green men, but the hallucinations produced some wild and crazy illusions. It was even comical to me at times living through the manifestations I was having. I was in my right mind (I think), but I said wacky things and saw bizarre sights.” “Those nights were silent nights, but holy nights as I sensed God’s divine presence in, and around me, in a supernatural way, far and above anything I had ever experienced before.” “Hope enabled the Holy Spirit to empower me to live beyond my natural ability and strength.”