Through the eyes of an angel

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Day after day he sat and watched as people lined up to the gate. One by one Peter would look up their name in the book of life and after finding it he would walk around the podium and hug that new soul making them feel so welcomed that they immediately knew that they belonged there. Peter would motion for one of his assistants to come over and take the new soul to their new place of dwelling. 2

Marcus was a soul that came to heaven’s door very early in life. He did not know too much about Earth, only what he has heard from souls that had freshly entered heaven’s boundaries. Marcus would sit and listen to the stories that each would share with those who would listen. It usually took a day or two and those memories would soon fade from their memory as their new life had now started. Marcus took notes and often would spend hours in his room reading the tales from which he had heard. 3

He would lie in his hammock and daydream of what his life might have been like if he had lived his life on Earth first. What kind of man would he had been, what kind of work would he have done, would he have married and how many children would he have had? Questions swirled through his mind over and over again. He would scold himself at times to stop or he would make himself crazy. 4

He loved heaven and knew that he was truly blessed to be there. But deep within him he wanted to come to Earth for just a day just to see for him self the wonderful things that he has heard about. 5

He went and talked with the Elders and asked if such a visit could be arranged. After a long debate and all issues were heard and addressed they decided that a visit would be in order but only for a day and he had to take another angel with him who has had been to Earth before. He was so excited that his wish was to be granted he screamed out with joy! The Elders laughed and sent him on his way to find another who was willing to go back to earth for a day. Marcus did not know anyone who had been to earth before, so he spoke to his best friend Turin. “Where do I start, who do I ask?” Marcus asked in a frustrated tone. “Relax” said Turin; “I have been to Earth many times to over see things for the Elders.” “You never told me that” Marcus said surprised. “I was not to reveal to anyone that I had done so, until now.” Turin replied. “Will you go with me Turin please!” Marcus begged. “Of course I will go with you” Turin said. 6

The next day Marcus and Turin began their decent down to Earth. As they floated toward the Earth’s atmosphere they began to go through physical changes. Marcus watched as Turin’s heavenly body changed into more of the form of a human man. He watched as veins and muscle tissue developed, skin was now forming to cover the muscle tissue, hair started to grow on his head and body. Marcus just floated watching the miracle of God take place right before his own eyes, then he lifted his own hand to his face and he to had skin and muscle. Marcus looked at Turin and smiled brightly, this was more than he could have ever imagined. 7

They were protected as they entered the Earth’s atmosphere, and this is when Marcus took his first breath of Earth air. He coughed and gagged, trying to get his new lungs to accept the air in which he was now breathing, but his chest held tight and he continued to cough, choke and gag. It took Turin a few minutes to become adjusted to the new air to. “You will be alright shortly Marcus, the air here is full of pollution and poisons, it is hard to get use to at first but you will adapt” stated Turin as he continued to cough himself. 8

Soon their descent was over and they ever so lightly touched down on to a grassy area. “This tickles under my feet,” laughed Marcus. “This is what they call grass” said Turin. 9

Turin was prepared and had appropriate clothing for them. They carried enough money to only get them through the day. “I will hold this money,” said Turin. 10

“I have this funny sensation,” said Marcus as he pointed to his stomach. “Awe you must be hungry” smiled Turin. “Well let’s go get something to eat”. “Will I know how to do this Turin?” said Marcus. “Yes, Marcus just watch me and do what I do and you will be fine,” said Turin. 11

As they set off on foot Marcus was amazed at all the things around him. He stopped and studied all the new things in his path, touching, smelling, admiring. Asking Turin what each object was and what it was used for. “There are so many things to study Turin, how will I do it all within our timeline?” said Marcus. “I will help you as much as I can Marcus but please lets go for now I am hungry!” laughed Turin. 12

They found a small little restaurant and went inside. They ordered something to eat, even though Marcus had no idea what he had just ordered he was excited to see what this cheeseburger looked like. Marcus fiddled with everything on the table. Turin picked up his fork and was explaining to Marcus what this was used for and how to use it properly, when a gentleman behind them turned around and looked at the both of them with a strange look upon his face. “Damn foreigners! Why don’t you go back to where you came from! We don’t want you here… you were not invited!” Then he got up from his seat and slammed his money on the table and left. 13

A confused look shown on Marcus’s face as he asked Turin, “Did we do something wrong? Why did that man talk to us that way?” “I am sorry Marcus, some people here are very rude and hateful. People here are not like they are in Heaven. You have mean people and you have nice people. Please do not let him upset you to much,” stated Turin. 14

They ate their dinner, Marcus enjoyed his cheeseburger very much and wanted another but Turin told him that one was enough or it would make his stomach hurt later. They paid their check and left the restaurant. By this time the moon and the stars was shining brightly in the night sky. “Oh look!” squealed Marcus as he was pointing. “What a beautiful sight this is!” 15

“We need to find a place to sleep,” said Turin. “Lets go down here I am sure we will find something this way.” The alley was dark, many figures of men and women stood within the shadows. Huge oil drums were lit up with fire roaring from the opening many stood by the fire to warm themselves. Marcus tried to talk to these people but these people did not want to talk with Marcus they scoffed and growled at them they had no interest in hearing what Marcus had to say. Turin pulled Marcus by the arm, “Come on lets go this is not a safe place,” Turin whispered softly. As Turin pulled Marcus by the arm Marcus could not help but to look back at those poor lost faces. “Turin isn’t there something we could do to help those people?” Marcus pleaded. “I am afraid not Marcus. Those are what this world calls homeless people. Society has turned their backs to these people and this is where they have ended up, it is sad I know, but please understand it is out of our control, we are not allowed to change anything while we are here,” Turin said sadly. “How did society turn their backs on them what does that mean?” asked Marcus. “Many are victims of circumstance. That means that they may have lost their job not being able to find another so they were unable to pay their bills and had to leave their homes. Some their homes may have been destroyed by hurricanes, tornados and earthquakes and became homeless with no way to rebuild their lives. Some lose a loved one and could not handle the pain so they turned to alcohol and drugs to try to ease their pain causing them to lose everything. Society would only help them so much. Soon that to is taken away and that leaves them here in this alley and now this is where they live,” Said Turin. Hearing these things from Turin stirred some feelings within Marcus that he had never experienced before and tears began to fall from his face. Wiping his face, “What are these Turin?” asked Marcus. “Those are tears, you are crying Marcus this is an emotion of sadness,” said Turin. 16

They turned down a brightly lit street, “this is better,” said Turin. There was a slight breeze, Marcus stopped to let it blow against his face he held his arms out wide, “This is wonderful!” Marcus exclaimed embracing the moment as a plastic bag that was blowing in the wind slapped him in the face. Pulling the bag from his face, he stood there looking at it, “What is this Turin, why is it flying in the breeze? Is it supposed to do that?” Turin shook his head, “No Marcus, that should not be there flying in the wind, look at the streets,” he pointed, litter surrounded them flying in the wind lying in the gutters. “Where does all of this trash come from Turin?” asked Marcus. “From many people who live here Marcus,” answered Turin. “It is easier for them to throw their waste down onto the street than to place it in the containers provided, they do not have a sense of pride, they take the world for granted and do not bother to think of how it affects others,” Turin continued. 17

They walked along the city streets, many buildings so tall that you could not see the top of them when you looked up. They passed a couple coming out of a nightclub. The couple was screaming at one another saying hurtful things and used many words that Marcus had never heard before. Then the man slapped the woman across the face. She fell to the ground crying “GET UP! GET UP! You whore I am warning you!” the man screamed at her, and then he kicked her in her stomach then ran down the street to hail a cab. She sat there crying, Marcus and Turin came over to help her, they helped her up and asked if there was anything they could do. But she refused any help, she thanked them and walked briskly to catch up with the man who did this to her. “Turin, again I do not understand,” said Marcus. “Why did that man strike her like that and say those awful hurtful things to her? Does he not know that she is God’s gift to him, God made him a companion and he does not cherish that?” Turin could only shake his head in disbelief, “This world is very different from the world you hear about when those new souls come into heaven isn’t it Marcus?” said Turin. “You hear from the God loving souls Marcus the ones who followed God’s commands those who accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, many souls here on Earth have not done so, they do not know who our Lord is, nor do many of them want to know, so they live in this world searching helplessly to find what they feel is missing in their life, and what they search for is our Father,” tears welled up in Turin’s eyes, come on Marcus it is getting late and we have a long day tomorrow. 18

They found a motel and went in to find a room, on the way a woman stopped them, “Hey baby you wanna date? I’ll do both of you for $100.00 any thing goes,” said the woman. Turin politely said no and pulled Marcus by the arm, “Hey what about you sunshine? I’ll let your friend watch for $50.00,” she said to Marcus. Turin turned and stated no in a more forceful tone. “You don’t have to be like that honey I did not know you two was together like that,” she said laughing. Turin just shook his head and kept walking. Turin was that a prostit…” Marcus had started to say before Turin cut him off, “Yes Marcus she was.” 19

They paid for their room and went upstairs. The hallways were lined with bums and drug addicts, about a half an hour went by and they heard the manager running them off. “You pay to sleep here! Get Out,” they heard him yell. Marcus sat and looked out the window. The flashing motel sign lit up the street outside. He watched as the woman who had approached them flagged down a car and got inside and drove away.  He sat and just seemed to soak up everything he could. Before long his eyes began to hurt and became tired. He laid on the bed and soon was fast asleep. Turin covered him up and turned out the light, “Good night Marcus, I am sorry that this was not as you expected,” then he laid down and fell fast asleep. 20

Marcus was up as the sun began to rise. He sat looking out the window, “Oh Turin wake up, you must see this!” said Marcus. “Look how beautiful, all those colors in the sky, that is by the finger of our Lord!” he continued smiling. Turin joined him at the window, and they said a morning prayer. “I am getting that feeling in my stomach again Turin, can I have another cheeseburger now,” Marcus said grinning. “No, Marcus this time we have what they call breakfast.” “Let’s wash up and we can get started we have a lot to do today!” said Turin excitedly. 21

They walked back to the restaurant that they ate dinner at last night; this time Marcus experienced pancakes, eggs, bacon, toast and orange juice. “That was so good Turin, I liked this breakfast as much as cheeseburgers!” Marcus exclaimed. The waitress over heard him and giggled as she handed them the check. “You gentleman have a nice day and thank you for coming in,” she said. 22

Turin decided to take Marcus into the park. As they walked they watched as the children laughed and played. The breeze rustled through the trees making the leaves dance upon the limbs. They came upon an ice cream vendor and each bought a ice cream cone, Marcus gobbled his down immediately.  They watched as some boys played basketball, the boys asked if they wanted to play and so they joined in. Soon after a car pulled up and a man from the car signaled for the boys to come to him. Turin and Marcus watched as the man handed the boys a little bag. The boys yelled at Marcus and Turin “Hey guys we’ll be back just hang out till we get back!” When the boys came back their whole attitude seemed to have changed. They were slow and uncoordinated, they laughed a lot and their shots were off. Marcus was at a loss, “Hey guys what happened? Where did you all go? You are not playing basketball like you were before you left, are you feeling okay?” Marcus asked very concerned. One of the boys stepped up, “Man, we went and got high, we are all messed up right now, what dude haven’t you ever got high before?” Marcus stepped back from the boy and looked at Turin, “What does he mean Turin, what is getting high?” Turin sighed and then told him what had happened, that the man in the car sold those young boys some drugs and this is the effect that the drugs has on them. Marcus hung his head low, “Come on dude you all going to play some B ball or what?” shouted one of the boys. “No, I do not want to play anymore, you all go ahead,” Marcus said sadly. Marcus walked over to a bench and just sat there with his face in his hands. Turin walked over to him and touched him on the shoulder. “I know how you are feeling Marcus and I am so sorry, come on let’s go.” 23

As they continued to walk through the park they had seen some people flying kites and throwing a football back and forth. Many people had their dogs with them, one dog Marcus watched amazed as he caught a Frisbee in mid air. As they walked down a tree lined path they passed a little elderly woman. Soon after they passed her they heard her scream, “Hey come back with that purse!” A man came dashing past them before they could react, “He has stolen my purse, she yelled Help!” They ran back to see if the woman was ok, “He took my purse,” she said as she began to cry. Soon some police officers came to help the woman and Marcus and Turin walked away. They sat on a park bench near by, “Turin, I want to go home now. I do not want to stay for the rest of the day, please can we go home now?” Marcus said tears streaming down his face. “I do not understand this world,” he began “There are so many beautiful things in this world, that are taken for granted. The elderly are to be cherished and taken care of, not pushed aside and stolen from, they have so much wisdom and knowledge to share with everyone but no one takes the time to listen to them, they are treated as they are a bother instead of a treasure. Grown ups selling drugs to young children, and women selling themselves. They treat one another with no respect, and they litter the Earth, the air, the skies and the waters. Many do not know who God is or just choose not to believe. I want to go home Turin, Earth was nothing like I thought it would be. I know that there are some people that are good but you really seem to have to search to find them, I found that I like cheeseburgers, breakfast and ice cream!” Marcus smiled a little trying to pull some positives from his trip. “I am ready to go now, maybe someday the Elders will grant me another trip to Earth along long time from now, maybe then things will be different.” 24

With that said they started their descent back to heaven and when they arrived Peter stood there at the gate with a big smile on his face and a hug for each of them welcoming them back home.25