----- Original Message ----- From: "MountainWings" <[email protected]> To: "Cynthia Gropman" <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, April 18, 2009 1:30 AM Subject: MountainWings:Saturday - Are You There - God?
> ------------------------------------------------- > MountainWings A MountainWings Moment > #9108 Wings Over The Mountains of Life > ------------------------------------------------- > > Are You There - God? > ===================== > > There once was an older, destitute man. He had lost his family, > his dignity, his work, and all his worldly possessions. The > only thing he had left was his faith in God. > > One day, he walked along the city sidewalks; homeless as he > was. Peering around the city buildings, the passing cars, and > sidewalk shoppers - he remembered a time when had the love of > his wife, the comfort of home, and the camaraderie of his many > friends and successful business partners. Just for one moment, > he could feel the love and passion he once used to enjoy. But > then he looked up into the sky, and he could see the graying > clouds rolling overhead; and the wind began to fly past his > ragged shirt sleeves. > > Realizing that he was who he was, he knew he had to find > shelter before the rains began to fall. Across the street, he > saw the old city park that he used to visit when he was just a > child. In the far end of the park, he spotted the old gazebo > he'd frequented with his high school sweetheart. Suddenly, the > rain began to fall. These weren't just ordinary raindrops - > they were hard, heavy, and oversized droplets of water that > pelted his head and neck like small stones. His walk turned > into a fast run as he struggled to get under the shelter of the > gazebo. Shaking off his shirt and wiping the wetness from his > cheeks and forehead, the man sat back on the two-seater swing > beneath the gazebo. Then he shook his head in disbelief. "Is > this what life is all about?" he asked, shaking his fist and > peering up toward the grey skies, "What more do you want from > me?" > > Just then, the sky began to clear and above the skyscrapers, he > could faintly see some bright hues of red, purple, pink, and > even blue. It was a rainbow; and the sun's rays began to shine > through the break in the clouds. Now sobbing, the man looked > back up into the sky, and he asked, "Are You there, God?" But > there was no audible reply. > > A few moments passed when a park ranger made his way up to the > old gazebo, "Top of the day to you, sir," he said to the man. > The man glanced at the ranger as the voice sounded vaguely > familiar. Sure enough, the man remembered the park ranger as a > friend he once knew many, many years in his past. > > "I think I know you," the man replied to the ranger, "aren't > you Ed from the country store?" > > The ranger was slightly taken aback as he too, recognized the > man. But the ranger's name was not Ed; that was his father's > name. "My name is Paul," said the ranger, stretching out his > hand to the man on the swing, "Ed was my father." > > "Oh," replied the man, "I'm Mark Baker," he paused to shake > Paul's hand. > > The similarities were uncanny, but Mark certainly remembered > Ed, and this ranger was the spitting image of him. > > "How'd you know my dad?" asked Paul. > > "Oh, it was so long ago...you wouldn't want to hear how we met," > replied Mark. > > Taking a couple steps beneath the shelter, Paul said, "Humor > me." > > Mark explained that he and Ed had met each other in the local > hospital. Mark had gone there to pick up his lab tests where he > and Ed had struck up a conversation while they sat in the > waiting room. By the time all was said and done, he discovered > that he was the perfect match for Ed - the perfect kidney > match. "Needless to say," said Mark, "one thing led to another > and we were kidney partners for life." > > "What happened to you?" asked Paul. > > "Wall Street called me, greed took me, and I played my last bit > of luck," he replied. Sighing aloud, Mark blinked to clear the > water from his eyes, "and then I lost it all." > > "I remember you," said Paul, then he pulled out a photograph > from his wallet, and pointed to two men standing side-by-side > by the old country store, "that's you, and that's my dad." > > Peering at the old black and white photograph, he could faintly > make out the faces of the worn picture, "Sure does look like > me, doesn't it?" asked Mark. > > Paul began smiling and he replied, "It is you," then he took a > deep breath, "do you know for how long I have been looking for > you?" > > Mark simply shook his head, "well, you found me...I wish under > better circumstances." > > Just then, Paul placed his hand upon Mark's shoulder, "I wish > my dad would've been able to see you again. He talked about you > all the time...and especially right before he died," Paul sighed, > "because of you, he was able to watch me graduate and get my > high school diploma, and later, he got to hold his newborn > grandson - my son." > > "Wow," Mark replied, "I didn't realize that one kidney could do > all that." > > "You don't understand, Mark," said Paul, "when he died, he left > you the old country store and the house. It's been waiting for > your return but you never came...until now." > > And suddenly, Mark had received his answer...and his solution to > his homelessness. It had been there the whole time but it took > him losing everything before he would rediscover the rainbow of > hope once again. > > Even in your darkest hour, when you ask - God shows up in the > most unlikely places. > > > Copyright - All Rights Reserved > By CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd > Lexington, S.C. > > > > Forward this issue to a friend or send them the link below: > http://www.mountainwings.com/past/9108.htm > > Thank you for inviting MountainWings into your mailbox. > Change a life, give a friend MountainWings. > See you tomorrow. > > **************************************************************** > www.MountainWings.com "Wings Over The Mountains of Life" > To: Subscribe, Un-Subscribe, Get a Book, T-Shirt, Rate Issues, > Tell Friends about MountainWings, Read Past Issues, Donations, > Submit a MountainWings Moment or Prayer Request, Set homepage to > Daily issue in larger type Go To: http://www.mountainwings.com > Click to unsubscribe: http://www.mountainwings.com/remove.html > **************************************************************** > MountainWings, POBox 43725, 120 Selig Dr., Atlanta, GA 30336 USA > You are subscribed as: [email protected] > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. 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