The voice in me

Chapter 8

Ruth could hardly keep still. The airline service was just too slow and she just needed to get her ticket. She kept battling within herself.  What if it was some sick joke? Why did they ask her not to involve the media?  Why couldn’t they let her see her daughter?  There was only one way to get the answers, and that’s exactly what she was doing. Finally,  out of sheer luck. She got the last ticket available, in a couple of hours she would find her answers. The longest flight she was to ever make, everything not making sense at all.

“Pastor Mike, Martha or Tasha, what ever her name is, hasn’t said a word,today. How do we know it’s not some kids play. She just wanted to run away from home and made this all up. ” Mary, the receptionist, brought back the subject. “We have already agreed that we will talk this over with both families involved present and get to the bottom of this,  the mother is on her way now and Lisa can hardly pull herself together,  so would you stop with this your questioning ,it’s not helping”, pastor Mike growled. He was tired.  It had been the most unexpected revelation. Who would have thought that in his time he would come across such a thing. This sort of things were only supposed to happen in movies, but here they were in the middle of what one would describe as bizarre.

The meeting was set at the church offices, it was to be as private as possible. The Bishop from out of state was called in to help. Pastor Mike was not keen to handle the matter on His own. Most of the church leaders were not informed about what was happening.  From the church it was only Pastor Mike and his wife, Bishop Mckenzie and Mary the secretary ,that were to attend the meeting. 

The day arrived, everyone was nervous, a lot of prayers were put in but now it was time to get the story right. Ruth sat there quietly, not sure how to take things. She was looking at her daughter,  who was pronounced dead 6 weeks ago. She herself had seen her body, brused badly, yet here she was perfectly fine. Her mannerisms were different, she sat and talked like an old lady. Who knows what was coming next.

“OK I know this is a very unusual circumstance, but we are in the house of the Lord and we shall begin with an opening prayer. ” Pastor Mike led the opening prayer then gave the floor to the Bishop. “Once again this is a strange and very sensitive situation which is why we asked that the public be excluded until we have figured out what is going on. Martha or Tasha,  you are the one who has brought us here. You came to this church a few weeks ago and fainted,  that’s when Lisa took you in to help you find your way home. However, all this has come to light and I understand you may be as confused as we all are. But am going to ask you to tell us what you remember happening before you came to the church. ” the calm tone of the Bishop’s voice was fitting and made everyone at ease. He spoke with such wisdom, gentle yet with control.

“All I know is I was in my house, the pain just got too much, I was failing to breath. I closed my eyes and then woke up in this room where I was with this young lady. I believe her name is Tasha. We both didn’t know where we were or how we got there. From nowhere a bright light shone . It was so blindening we had to cover our eyes. Someone called our names and asked us to step forward.  We were told that our time on earth was over, the books were to be opened.  I was terrified. The girl couldn’t stop screaming and crying. I don’t know why but I just held her hand and she looked at me and disappeared.  Now it was just me in the room. Another voice called out to the first. Telling them that I had 1 last assignment.  They walked me through my life’s journey, showing me all the wrongs I had done. My biggest sin was not fully forgiving my husband when he left me. All the works that I did in the church, in my community was canceled out because I didn’t forgive completely. I remember crying out loud, for mercy because I knew that I wasn’t going to heaven. It had become clear that I was dead and this was my time to face judgement. Never did I dream that I wouldn’t make it to heaven. My name was not found on the listed . The second voice then told me that a second chance has been granted but it is only for me to make amends. Hearing these words made me see how merciful God is. I wasn’t deserving. I made my children suffer. Their lives today is as a result of how I handled my disappointments and hurt. But still he told me to come back. I didn’t know how I was going to do that, next thing I wake up in a church. With my memory entirely wiped up. I only knew my name and where I  came from. But when I saw Lisa, I remembered her as my daughter.  Memories  came back as everything she did was what I was shown about how I had lived my life. So many times I wanted to talk to her, but I just couldn’t. Time went by, allowing me to enjoy at least a moment with my daughter and grandchildren. In summary am only here to ask for forgiveness from my children, and to forgive my husband. Once that is done, I will be able to enter into His rest.

Lisa couldn’t help herself anymore. This had triggered all her past pains that never healed. Ruth on the other had still had questions.  ‘WHAT ABOUT MY TASHA?’