Sunsets Into Sunrises
Bishop Martin - The Progress of a Soul in the Beyond
- Chapter 56 -
MARTIN'S FUTILE EFFORT TO SLEEP. - HE IS SURPRISED BY A GROUP OF WRETCHED SPIRITS, WHOM HE ASSISTS.
1
(Bishop Martin): "Whatever will I do now? Where can I turn to? Should I go to the doors of Mars, of Venus, or rather to those of Saturn, Uranus, or Miron (Neptune), or maybe to the door of the several small planets? I might be faced with something even worse, and what then? There is no question of resistance on my part, for I lack strength as well as wisdom.
2
I had better stay clear of all the doors in future, so I will now roll myself up in some corner like a hedgehog and try to sleep. Failing that, I will at least lie there throughout all eternity, without moving. I will not eat anything nor speak to anybody, come what may! In short, I shall be dead for everyone, even the fair Mercurian! So, it is goodbye!
3
Since I cannot cease to exist, I'll go to my rest, from which no God shall be able to wake me. There, I see already such a corner where I will lie down and stay forever and ever, Amen!"
4
Bishop Martin walks over to a recess between two columns which help support the gallery. He crawls in, rolls up, and tries to sleep, but of course, it does not work.
5
After he has been lying there for about two hours, as it seems to him, a great uproar can be heard outside the house, like that of a gale, in which human voices seem to be calling for help.
6
(Hearing this, Bishop Martin springs to his feet and says): "Ah, but this is different! I cannot ignore this! In such a case, I cannot continue with my intended eternal rest. I must hurry outside! There is someone in trouble, and I must help."
7
With these words, he rushes outside and notices, just beyond his garden fence, a crowd of apparently hunted spirits seeking help and safety. He rushes to the garden gate, opens it wide, and shouts:
8
(Bishop Martin): "This way, this way, friends and dear brothers - this is a safe place! Here you will be safe from persecution! And should you be hungry and thirsty, we'll find some way out! Just come in, all of you. How many of you are there?"
9
(Says one, nearest to Martin): "We are about a thousand of the most wretched, poor devils. We have escaped from hell and have been wandering about this terrible endless desert for half an eternity, unable to find shelter to hide and rest a little. Believe me, it is a terrible lot to be hunted forever without getting any peace or rest! If you, high-minded spirit, have a corner where we would be safe and have some rest, take us in and we shall be most grateful."
10
(Bishop Martin): "Friends, here is the gate - enter all of you! My house does not seem very large from the outside, but I assure you there will be plenty of room inside."
11
After these words, the hunted stream into the garden, and from there into the house, where they are astonished to find its interior of such splendor and size.
12
The first one embraces our bishop and speaks for all of them : "Oh, you blessed friend, how wonderful it is here in your house! For billions of earth millennia, it is the first light we have seen. Since we left earth, our eyes have not seen a single ray of light! Oh light, light, how glorious you are! Oh friend, do not send us away, but let us stay always with you."
13
(Bishop Martin): "Why should I send you away when I am myself glad to have so much company? You may stay here forever, so just make yourselves comfortable. I do not possess much myself in this, my heaven, but whatever I have got, I will gladly hand over to you - even if nothing is left for me! God be thanked that at long last I have found company!
14
This is really most enjoyable. I would rather have you than the so-called angels of God, who, in their bliss are capable of forgetting a poor devil for a whole eternity, unable or not willing to consider the feelings of such an unfortunate one. I can tell you this: The Lord alone is good, that is a fact! But all the rest of the celestial rabble can stay away from me forever, for they have an intellectual arrogance which stinks to a straightforward, honest chap like I am, and probably, like all of you are. But, as already mentioned, God, the Lord Jesus, is an exception! He is really good - yes, very good!"
15
(Says another from the thousand): "Yes, yes, you are right - He is really good! Blessed be He, if He exists at all! As for the rest of the celestial rabble, we, too, do not care about them, with the exception of you, dear friend."
16
(Bishop Martin): "Dear friends, heaven is not for me as yet, for I am more or less on the same level as you. But we shall have plenty of time in eternity to discuss our situation, so let us now look for something to eat. Afterwards, we can give vent to our feelings. Some of you come with me to this cupboard, which holds some provisions for the hungry and the thirsty."