My Friend, A Woman of Faith That old and evil death, thy sting, comes to the conversation with my friend, 85 years who as a woman is widow, and of sorrows. Living longer on medicine and strength of will, the ones nearing the end of life are her companions. Hold my hand, let us speak. So the talk turns to life after death: heavenward heaven. The trumpets play all the time, angels sing and worship God in a court of ecstasy where the conscious mind is aware of our soul basking in glory like a single star among infinite galaxies, a sun ever burning hymn, pure illumination this constant harmony. Our tears are wiped away and we weep no more, nor-travail or labor having run the race of life in preparation for infinite engaging love, serene magnitude ever. Uncountable the sum of young promise uplifted to soar--in ascension to unity, knowing the unknowable with indivisible essence tangible. This is heavens way, do you think, tell me of passing over to God. We talk some more, she wanting to come forward to the sacraments again. Musical notes, language of peace: This love a comfort, a white light drawing us to embraces. Place of rest, quiet, You set a table before me Lord, though I walk through the shadow of death I fear no evil. Comfort me, comfort me. Walk with me in this valley, she asks. I do, I will, I say. Grateful. Grateful. Grateful. Listening To Read Aloud Silently The NSRV Jan 29, 2001 I wanted to hear about Lions, Biblical Commentary, and things that go my lips are clean, touched then with burning coal my words become praise. Heaven raised, and humorous notes of the sound of snowflakes in their winter birth infinity. (CAPTION) After Jerusalem fell to Rome, 1,000 Jewish zealots fled to this mountaintop in the Judean Desert near the edge of steep cliffs, high above the Dead Sea. Having withstood a 2-year siege by the Roman Tenth Legion. Seeing their end nearing, the zealots chose death by their own hands rather than become slaves to the Romans. Ancient ruins of Masada near the Dead Sea Photo: Rick White ©2004