Living with a memory
From the earliest time I could recall a previous existence and a series of memories which were allegorical statements as well, these were never a conflict with my sense of reason, and were my consolations, especially when life went a direction without me. This is my experience and as such it is my talents or spiritual currency
A Simple Catechism states, that the powers of the soul are Memory, Will and Understanding.
My intention is to dwell on memory in conjunction with the Gospel of Jesus Christ; but we will address more subjects as we go on, in particular every verse alluding to life after death or life before birth!
In doing so I do no wrong, as someone who knows, it would be wrong for me not to disclose what I know, every other person can safely adhere to doctrine, this knowledge to me, is so many talents, to hide what is spirit in the earth is unacceptable, Matthew 25-14-30.
To you my readers many things may seem particularly childish this is a good sign as any technicalities would limit the readership, and God works so that everyone may understand.
The issue of life is Salvation, so in actual fact this is the main subject I am addressing and this is by no means a casual exercise, as the case is clear "In God there is no Iniquity". Yet grace works unhindered by religion.
The model I wish to use is that of Ezekiel Ch.18-v32 and Ch.33-v8-20.from this we can see we have a merciful Father.
My perception of God is that he knows my actions from my thoughts; my actions are born in my mind so they are open to God. In telling you this I am saying clearly that God can predispose himself to whether our actions are pleasing or displeasing.
Now bear with me here I want to make a point I may seem to be childish! I once heard a story of a railroad worker who had lost his foot due to having seen a carriage roll away and putting his foot on the track to stop it, but for the life of him he didn’t know why he did it. Now looking on the lighter side it was a ‘one off ‘but I want you to examine this as a human trait. For whatever reason this man thought that stopping the carriage was for the common good. This subject, the common good, will crop up again and it is very important especially in relation to God’s mercy, as it is really a mirror of His Mercy, being the measure you give responding to what you receive.
Now let me tell you a story from my oldest memories. I have no names for anyone because only when you live have you got a name, it’s only when you come into the world that you are given a name, but soldier, king, prince and statesman are identifiable by their dress. However you should keep in mind that I am sharing more than this experience with you and that all I tell you will help you to understand the complete picture!
The Journeys of Christopher Cross
The young soldier stood amongst the pine trees, the early morning calm was mirrored by the humdrum quiet of the camp, men going about their everyday business, preparing or repairing their equipment, writing letters, reading and resting.
The young soldier laid his carbine against a tree and listened to the quietness. There in the background a small sound attracted his attention, gradually the sound claimed more and more of his attention, ever closer and louder it became interspersed with shouts and gunfire. Then men poured by, running like deer, in total confusion, like in a dream. The young soldier watched helplessly, giving no heed to his comrade’s urgent advice to run.
He found himself frozen. Then, coming towards him, he heard the stealthy advance only the hunter makes. His instinct took over and he found himself cover in the undergrowth.
The young soldier sensed that were other enemy troopers nearby and it was desperately necessary to leave, he would be discovered he knew, so, with his bayonet in his hand he launched himself at the enemy soldier. Who turned just in time to fend off the assault, but because they were so close, he had to discard his carbine and fight hand to hand.
In total silence both men struggled, each knowing that the next person on the scene may not be friendly. The young soldier felt that he could defeat his enemy, but at the critical moment would find that his adversary could get out of trouble, the struggle increased in intensity and with a will both men set out to kill each other. The young soldier held his bayonet with both hands and was driving it downward into his enemy’s chest, who was fending off the blow and holding the young soldier’s wrists. His bayonet connected with the enemy soldier’s tunic, exposing a photograph of a woman and a young girl. On seeing this he immediately stopped fighting as he felt that this man had more reason to live than he and in that split seconds hesitation the enemy soldier turned the bayonet backwards and upwards into the young soldier’s chest.
Ascension
The spirit of the young soldier looked on the scene, and saw the young soldier’s body and sitting astride him the enemy soldier with the photograph in his hand. The enemy soldier was in a state of shock - he couldn’t understand how such a dangerous situation could end so inexplicably. There were other soldiers present, companions of the enemy soldier, who were comforting him. They were rough men and the young soldier’s spirit found them distasteful.
The spirit of the young soldier tried to speak but could not, if he could have he would have comforted the enemy soldier, there was a barrier between them like a six-inch plate glass window, he could not hear what was being said. He also found he could not pray and he couldn’t determine whether it was night or day; even so he consciously wished well to the enemy soldier. Then he started to ascend.
As he arose the soldier drifted into a feeling of forgetfulness for he had many recriminating thoughts against him (if only he had done this and not that and many feelings like this assailed him). When the ascent stopped and the mist cleared he found himself in the entrance to a hallway, he seemed to know this hallway,
At the end of the hallway there was a larger more open area although he could see nothing more than inside the portal he felt a sense of dread about the thought of entering it, he froze not daring to take even another step, he knew that this place was important in that he had to make a choice of where to go and there was the possibility he might walk further than he should, which could be disastrous, or that he would be denied access to the safe place he sought.
Just then two men passed him by. One was a tall bearded man in a check jacket, the other was a plump man with thick black hair in a corduroy jacket, this man too was in a certain amount of trepidation too but his friend was almost casual saying "Ah, here it is" and holding the narrow door open for his companion before he too entered followed smartly by the young soldier.
The Room Where History Meets Fact
Once inside the two men were nowhere to be seen, the young soldier was still in his uniform, he was in a very large room where many people were gathered, every style of dress imaginable from bygone eras were represented,
After a while he came upon a group of people very much in discussion, the young soldier joined them and listened in, the main speaker, a notable looking man was sharing reminiscences of his life in the body, he had been a famous figure and the young soldier recognised him from his own personal academic studies, the notable looking man's audience were rapt in their attention of this reminiscence, the young soldier too was engrossed up until he heard the notable looking man say something out of line with what he had learned from his academic studies.
Politely he interjected and brought it to everyone’s attention, whereupon the distinguished looking mans face became very angry and just like " that " everyone disappeared, with a sense of shock the young soldier realised that emotions like anger really were explosive here,
With that understood he willed himself elsewhere and closed his eyes,
Embryonica
When he reopened them he saw a face that was so wizened, and old that age as he had ever known it was shockingly challenged, the face was that of a sleeper, there was no body with it, to his right and left were other faces each much the same as the first, in between each head there was a blackness, only his eyes were open,
He could see that the position he occupied was part of an orbit of concentric circles, the cycle he was in gave a good view of each of the circles, he could see into the centre, but could not see what was the epicentre, the circles were smaller towards the centre, even though each head was enveloped in thick blackness, they were clearly visible, as though the light emanated from each head,
He understood that as everyone here was so similar, so he too must be! There was no light here and thick blackness enveloped each head.
Directly opposite him in between the space occupied by two heads, a mans arm appeared, this arm vigorously rubbed away the darkness in front of him, there was more darkness behind it but golden letters and unknown characters appeared scrolling past the space which had been vigorously rubbed,
These letters and characters were not openly understood to the witnessing head, or so it appeared yet when they had scrolled past the witnessing head (which it appeared was the only head to have its eyes open) exclaimed just one word.
"PERFECT"
As soon as this word had left his mouth the head was snatched out of the orbit it had been occupying and was borne downwards a great rushing sound accompanied this activity.
Many planets sped by, then the Earth came into view, at this sight the spirit within the head (which had been conceived when it had opened its eyes) halted the descent,
The Great Tribulation? But I have been here before! He said,
Then one of the angels who had snatched him from the orbit he had been occupying, above spoke saying "So long as you live you shall not see War, the second one then said "You shall not live long",
They, the angels were distinguishable by their light; as one was transparently dark and one was transparently light,
These statements seemed reasonable to the newly conceived spirit so without further ado their descent continued, the Earth growing ever larger accepted the three messengers!
Christopher Cross 12 April 1997 (James Kennedy)
