Guardians of The Realm
I have been playing around with a few manuscript ideas about the interconnectedness between the physical and spiritual realms.
My inspiration stems from two books by author Frank Peretti — This Present Darkness and Piercing The Darkness.
I am not sure if this will evolve into something anywhere near as substantial as Mr. Peretti’s excellent novels, but given the current state of our world, you begin to take a more vested interest in what may be happening “behind the scenes” so to speak.
Anyway, below is an initial rough draft of a scene depicting an angelic protection detail on guard.
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"So, what do you think?” asked Raphael.
Haneem glanced to his left to look at his mentor and friend. “Well, he’s certainly come a long way — literally and figuratively. I don’t think he realizes just how far he has come.”
Raphael grunted in acknowledgement. For the better part of the past hour they had occupied a lifeguard watchtower 100 metres from where a man sat. Anyone passing by would only see an empty watchtower — which suited the Guardians just fine. If any human was actually permitted to see them, they would be amazed the platform supported them, given their muscular size and each being over 9 feet tall. Actually, anyone seeing them would likely be more frightened than awestruck.
They were on special assignment providing protective overwatch for the man who currently held their attention. No one else had appeared since the man arrived at the western end of a curved sandy beach. It formed a secluded bay located on the eastern edge of the town of Port Antonio, on the north-eastern side of the island of Jamaica.
As the Guardians watched the man with his back to them, they could see his shoulders shaking — he was sobbing uncontrollably.
“It’s been over four decades since he left his homeland,” Haneem said quietly. “And in all that time, with all of the pain and loss which occurred in his life, he still chooses to honour and worship our Lord …in spite of all the painful memories.”
Raphael turned to look at his protege, hearing the wonder in his companion’s voice. “Why do you think that is, Haneem?”
“Honestly, I am not sure”, Haneem mused. “I know our Lord sacrificed everything for His human creations. I don’t know what it’s like to have Paraklētos, His Comforter, living inside of me, but because of our Lord’s kindness and love for us as Guardians, I have a burning desire to protect humankind from the Betrayer and his minions.” Haneem uttered the last few words through gritted teeth and with clenched fists.
Raphael said nothing, but nodded to himself in approval. Turning to look at the man on the beach again, he reflected on the past when he and his fellow Guardians fought and evicted Lucifer and his followers from their realm. He was still amazed the one who had once been gifted with one of the highest positions of his kind, along with the title Morning Star, had rebelled and sought to usurp the throne.
Even now, after multiple millennia had passed, Raphael was still saddened and not a little angry at those whom he once considered friends and brothers-in-arms. Why had they chosen to rebel against their Lord? Immediately after that first civil war, his Commander, Michael, had assigned him to patrol the outer regions — those areas where their realm intersected with that of the humans — areas which regularly bore witness to repeated unsanctioned activity from those who had been originally cast out.
Forty months ago, by earth’s standard time reference, Raphael had been given the additional task of protecting the man now in front of them. He had not questioned his new orders, but lately some patterns were emerging which were hard to ignore, causing him to wonder why this man warranted such special attention. He recalled it was 40 days ago, when Haneem, also assigned by the Commander, joined him in watching over the man. Something else he couldn’t quite quantify; the man had returned to his homeland exactly 40 years to the day after he left. These numbers and timeframes held some special significance … he was sure if it.
Regardless of what he thought, he and Haneem would honour their Commander’s orders and fulfill their duty without hesitation, protecting this man who belonged to their Lord — even at the cost of their own lives.
