Places In God

We sat huddled in the place of listening transferring likely thoughts back to each other telling stories of why we weren’t hearing because we were in the “first place” instead of the Place of Listening.

            When we heard a bell ring; not a doorbell, a school bell, not dongs but ring ring RING.  Two shorts, one long – this seemed clamorous.  It broke the background waves and all sound.  Nothing existed except this linger of the bell rings.  Where we were seated seemed to be part of a ring of tubes that began to move.  We were lifted up in a gentle sway – even smooth riding up, up, much like a modern elevator.  We saw stages and seats, vast fields of flowers, pretty water in lakes and falls.  We could hear mighty rushing winds and a still small voice, alternating inhalations of wind, exhaling the small voice.  It seemed to be the same – coming in one way going out another.  We passed fire, like hot lava, massive rock formations, great heat that didn’t burn, up, up, then grass. 

            The tube seat halted and we jumped off and began to run and play, frolicking like young children with a garden hose – spraying each other.  There was no effort – no energy expense.  We were neither winded nor tired.  Since there is no time space element this might have taken forever.  I just know we laughed and played with refreshing abandon.   There was nothing to look at, no thoughts to think, no questions – just freedom.  I remember jumping up and down, knees going one way arms going the other.  I never could do the hula-hoop and suddenly I had a bright orange hula-hoop spinning.  We made hills to roll down, pools that would not drown us.  Valerie fashioned ballet shoes and a sugar plum fairy costume and danced.  Rosa made some clouds thick enough for us to bounce on – Dorothy made a bowling ball from one of Rosa’s clouds and rolled strike after strike.  We played make-up and painted our faces.  We were going to do flexology on Vera’s feet when it began to rain.  She gave new meaning to “foot loose and fancy free.”  We sloshed around in the rain, got all muddy, then we rolled down a hillside into the pool that didn’t drown us to wash off the mud.  There were pussy willow trees, weeping willow trees and poplar trees and golden maple in white, green and gold resplendence.  “Let’s do our nails, let’s sing some songs – let’s grow some fruit – why not write a play – let’s make baby bunnies, I like to pet rabbits…”, then the Phoenix appeared we knew it was time to go from the Place of Pure God.