Stranger Than Life

A few years back, while watching Benny Hinn, the power of God swept through the house leaving me in tears and my friends in the Spirit on the floor.  With two twins in my arms, I was astounded to hear God say to me (internally): "Will you go- where I tell you to go-?"  Honestly I couldn't have stopped the tears if I wanted to, as His Spirit melted me within the deepest core of my being.  When I was able to speak, I told one of my friends that God was moving me out.  Still, I thought that would be about two months down the line.  Although I knew of a missionary couple, I had lost track of them.  However, somehow they contacted me and asked if they could pay me a visit.  What a surprise to find that they felt inspired to pay my air fare for a plane ticket to Motueka, South Island, New Zealand; and that "within that week I was there."1

A strange thing happened a few weeks before I left.  Throughout my Christian walk I had met ones who had told me about a vision or two.  Then I found that there was such a thing, biblically, as "an open vision and a closed vision."  A closed vision is where you have an impression, which can seem almost real, but in an open vision it's impossible to differentiate between real life and the vision.  So I guess I'd have to say that, while lying down, I began to have "something in between."  I could envision myself on the cross, but then it was as if  "I was on the cross."  Suddenly the height seemed higher than I'd imagined.  Then, again, if you consider the works of art of that historical event- you'll recall that the platform to hold the cross might have been two and a half or three feet before the eight or nine foot cross anyway.  2

My friends where also in the house, so I went to one of them to pray because I felt like I was going to die; the pain was horrendous.   Even while she prayed, the vision still continued and the sky moved very rapidly in amongst the dark gloomy clouds.  My back felt like it would break, and neither prayer nor aspirin seemed to help.  Faintly I could see the outlines of the solders on bended knees, and I thought of the scriptures that spoke of them gambling.  In the midst of dreadful agony, I thought perhaps that I could just be in deep empathy for the Master, but hey this was extreme.  Then something happened and lightning pierced the sky, when I heard these words:  "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?"  That is, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me (Matthew 27:45),?"  Finally it was over, but the pain lasted till the next day.3

To this day I have no idea why I experienced such a thing. Only now, after many years of genealogy research, have I found that my line relates to the Jewish Christ the Messiah.  However, when I finally reached my destination "an even stranger thing happened."  There I was sitting in an unfamiliar church when the co-pastor got up and said "someone here is like on the cross" and it's as if you can't look forward or back and God wants to comfort you.  Interesting enough, I realized that his message couldn't have applied to anyone there but me.  And I suppose stranger things than this have happened to others, though I have never had a vision before or since that time.  If anyone would like to offer an explanation, I'd be pleased to listen.  4

Why should I write about such a vision, when we all celebrate Christ's glorious birth?  Well, giving credit where credit is due, it was Rage of Reason who inspired me with his brilliant Word-art design, called "Nail me to the cross II" allpoetry.com/Poem/17170505