by L. H. Hall
Chapter 41
The Wedding
The next
morning we, Sarah, Deejay, and I, were up before dawn, and left
early with instructions to make sure our families ate a good
breakfast and brought all the cameras and binoculars. We wanted to
get there before the others to prepare the scene.
We went
directly to the Top of the World to pray. We asked God to meet with
us and let our parents and families feel His special presence, as we
always had. We had decided that since we did not need this special
place any more, and might never return, to invite everyone up for
the ceremony after the stories were told. We hoped they would all
experience the blessings we always felt. We were still praying, or
praising God, sitting on the Top of the World wrapped in the arms of
God, looking out over the sea, when we heard them come up behind
us. We did not go down. We did not want to leave the ecstasy of
the Top of the World.
"Hi. Happy
Birthday, Debbie." Sarah waved when they appeared over the rim.
"That's the top of the mountain where you are. We're on the Top of
the World. A dip in the lake will get some of the sweat off, if
you like. Its always refreshing after the hard climb."
"We didn't
bring our suits, I am afraid," Dad declined.
"Go on in
anyway," I advised. "You'll be dry in ten minutes, fifteen at the
most. Just don't forget to take stuff out of your pockets that
might get wet or drag you to the bottom. This lake has no bottom."
In a few
minutes they were all seated on the broad apron north of the
crater. Debbie and Julie took turns presenting a verbal picture of
the preparations they had made, while we thought they were in the
ravine. Debbie told how the flowers had not wilted, and about the
orchid wedding gown, the robe, and crowns Sarah had made. Julie
complained that she had never allowed them to touch the wedding
garments, or even come close to them, nor the carpet of flowers on
the Top of the World that was to be our consummation bed.
Then, Jamie
took up the story, of how we stood looking into each other's eyes
and prayed; asking the Lord himself to officiate and bless our
union. How we took turns praying the same prayer without a pause or
break in the content or meaning; how we made our vows to each other
before God, and our witnesses; and finally, how after putting the
bamboo ring on her finger, I had kissed my beautiful bride.
When he
finished, he looked at the girls, for their nods of approval. "I
don't know whether I am supposed to tell this or not. We all saw
it. I don't even know if Timmy and Sarah are aware of it. We have
never mentioned it to them. You may think I am a liar, or crazy.
They did not get married on that rock. [Sarah and I looked at each
other and smiled. We knew what he was about to say.] Timmy hadn't
prayed two sentences, before they were engulfed in a--a--transparent
golden cloud. They seemed to rise at least three feet and hovered
above the rock until Timmy took Sarah in his arms and kissed her.
While they were kissing, they slowly settled back to the Top of the
world. Dad, Mother, Mr. and Mrs. Jennings, they weren't married on
the Top of the World. They were married in the heavens above the
Top of the World."
Every eye
was soggy, even little Joey's
"Now you've
heard the story, Daddy, Momma, Mr. and Mrs. Davis." Sarah asked,
"Do you approve? Are we married?"
"A knot
truly tied in heaven." Mr. Jennings wiped his face with the wet
handkerchief he had forgotten to take out of his pocket when he
dipped in the pool.
"Truly," Dad
agreed. "We surely can't match that."
"If it were
told by anyone, but these Godly young people. I'd never believe it,
but the Holy Spirit in my soul tells me every word we heard is
true." Mother wept profusely. "I wish we could have seen it."
"Mrs.
Jennings said nothing. She just wept, as is becoming of the mother
of the bride."
"This has
always been our special place." Sarah wiped the tears from her own
eyes. "To our knowledge, no one but the three of us has ever been
up here, but we don't need this place anymore. We have found that
Jesus will meet us anywhere; although, the Top of the World will
always be special to us, we may never come here again. We invite
all of you to come up here, and form a prayer circle around us while
our earthly fathers officiate in a wedding that the carnal world
will accept."
"Is there
room for all of us up there?" Mother seemed concerned.
"There's
room." I encouraged them. "Stand close, and hang on to each other,
and don't step backward. Turn around and look before you step."
Sarah stood
up in the center, and I gave the others a hand as they came up the
steps. They filed around each side of us. The "Ooh's" and "Ahh's"
and "Hallelujahs," etc., told us they felt the power of God when
they stepped onto the Top of the World. When Dad began the opening
prayer the Holy Spirit descended on us in all His glory while we
exchanged our vows again for the benefit of the worldly system.
When they were finished, both grandfathers took turns praying
prayers of dedication for their new granddaughter. After that,
everyone put their hands on us and prayed for God's blessing on
our lives individually, and as a family, even the ones that might
come later.
No one
seemed to want to leave the Top of the World. All, from the youngest
to the oldest, felt a strong presence of the Author of love and
peace. No one wanted to leave His presence; but finally, they began
to descend to the top of the mountain. Sarah, the baby and I were
left to enjoy our last few moments on the rock, that was so special
to us.
"Listen,
everybody," Sarah said loudly, The precious power of God that you
have just felt so strongly, is why this big old ugly rock is so
special to Timmy and me. The Lord has never failed to meet us here
because we have always expected Him to. What you felt today is
nothing compared to what Timmy and I have felt in our experiences on
this rock because of our unity with each other. We love this place,
but as I said earlier, we don't need it any more. God isn't in this
place any more than He is at the cave or the ravine or the beach or
Goat Field or the lakes. He is in your own hearts. God is here
today, because Timmy and I, and each one of you brought Him up
here. We came up early and prayed. We prepared the place, not
because we are anything. We are, but inexperienced children, too
young to be married and have a baby. We are nothing, but God in all
His glory dwells in our hearts, and we try always to let Him lead us
and guide us and have his will in our lives, but we don't have
anything you don't have. He dwells in your hearts as much as he
does ours. You can have this special experience in your own lives
anywhere you are. All you have to do is yield, and relax in Him.
Thank you for making the climb to experience what may be our last
visit to the Top of the World."
Applause
rang from below. "It sounds like we have a lady preacher on our
hands." Dad applauded the loudest.
Sarah handed
me the baby while she climbed down. "What's this?" I looked at
Deejay's little breast, There was a pink spot over her heart, like
someone had pressed hard enough to cause a bruise. Only it was
bright pink."
"Sarah,
looked. "I've never seen that before. I wonder what caused it."
"Could it be
a fingerprint over her heart?" Dad asked.
"It's about
the shape of one." Sarah looked at the spot again.
"It's God's
fingerprint, Honey," her father answered. "I saw him put his finger
there when he took her away from me, and held her for a minute."
"I had the
same experience when I was praying for her," Dad looked at him in
astonishment.
"She is
identified for life as God's child." Sarah breathed as pride swelled
in her heart for our daughter.
The End
Copyright 1995
by
Leonard H. Hall, Sr.