Chapter 33
I miss my friend John so much. Rarely do I see his children, Patton and Amber, but when we do meet up, the flood of emotions washes over us because of our connection. It’s greater than my friendship with their dad because it’s the bond that I am a son who lost a father to suicide and they are children who have lost a father to suicide. I’ve been involved in suicide prevention groups, and it just didn’t fit me. That’s probably the introvert in me, wanting to deal with my issues in my way and on my own rather than with a group.
When I see Amber and Patton, I hurt for them, knowing the pain of their loss. Amber has the emptiness of not having her dad to walk her down the aisle for her wedding. Patton does not have his dad as a sounding board for beginning life as a young man—we need that from our fathers. Both of them overcame and rose above this obstacle and made a miraculous impact on this earth. Amber was a successful business owner. Patton was using his journalism skills to keep the political powers on their toes, while teaching young men and women how to do it, too.
I occasionally talked with Joyce Millington, John’s wife, and listened to her share her stories. I was helping her let go of the guilt that I once carried, thinking, Could I have prevented this from happening? We have to forgive ourselves so we can live in the present.
From these losses, I gained a powerful desire to live. Every time I watched Eva and Ned, the more I wanted to give them a wonderful life. I wanted them to experience the grandness of life. I couldn’t shield against things, but it was comforting that I was not alone in their protection. Johnny Bruce had given me experiences to remind me that their loved ones were watching on the other side.
I must do everything I can to take better care of myself and Eileen, so that we can be around for many years.
Eileen and I drifted on the creek, using the trolling motor to quietly guide the boat.
“What’s that, Dalton?” asked Eileen, bolting upright. “Do you hear the splashing water?” I stopped the motor.
We looked around the boat and saw nothing.
“Yeah, it sounds like someone is walking on puddles of wet pavement.”
Then we saw it. The wind was calm. The surface water was smooth, except for splashes from a distance that kept appearing a footstep away from each other. There were one, two, three; and they were coming closer to us. We saw a sandal appear. The next splash, a second sandal. The next splash, human feet appeared in the sandals. The next splash, two blue jean legs appeared. The next splash, a human torso in overalls appeared. The next step, we saw a human chest in bib overalls with a carpenter’s pencil and a small ruler tucked in the front pocket. The next step was right next to the boat. Shoulders and a gentle face appeared. The bearded Man with shoulder-length, black hair stood next to the boat with warm, blue eyes shining on us. A smile beamed across His face. His arms spread out wide as He bent over, lifted water over His palms, and then stood stretching His arms out to His side. The water flowed from His hands back to the lake and over the boat’s gunnel.
“Hello there, my sister Eileen and brother Dalton,” said the Man. “Do not be afraid, for you have brought a smile to My face.”
Eileen and I grabbed each other’s hands and stood speechless. I could feel trembling in her hand, and she could feel trembling in mine.
The Man laughed a little and reached out to place His hands over ours. “No need to tremble anymore, and yes, I am Who you think I am.”
When His hands touched ours, warmth shot through my skin to my veins and directly to my heart. His touch was different and more human than I had felt from the hug with Daddy and with Eileen’s parents. It was a solid skin touch. That’s when I noticed the holes in each of His hands.
The scent of honeysuckle quickly filled the air. I looked at His face and noticed the back light beaming around His head. Comfort and peace replaced my trembling.
“I . . . I . . . I can’t believe it,” I said.
“You . . . you look like a carpenter,” said Eileen.
Said the man, “My father is the Builder. He is your Builder, too.”
“Ah, right, and Your Father, here, was a carpenter, and so were You,” realized Eileen.
“Ding! Ding! Ding! Now you are getting it, Eileen.” The Carpenter smiled.
“Tell me, Sir, how do we deserve this visit?” I asked.
“Dalton, you sound just like my first students, who were fishermen, too.” The Carpenter. chuckled “Sometimes, you have to accept the gifts given to you, but you have always been an inquisitive child. Dalton, it is what you did for your neighbor Ed today. It was your forgiveness for his actions. Then, you went beyond that, and you gave something away that is special to you by giving away the gift we gave you. Look at him over there, happily talking with his son. That’s something he has missed since his son’s passing over to this side. You didn’t have to do that, Dalton, and no, We were not testing you. That’s not the Builder’s way. It is as you say. ‘He doesn’t cause bad things to happen. He uses them for your good.’ If people would just stop blaming the Builder for bad things on this earth. Why don’t they take responsibility for their human decisions or other humans’ decisions?”
“Well, You know; You were around a few of these stubborn people,” I said.
The Carpenter laughed. “Ah, yes, Peter and James didn’t get it until later on. Not until they had to teach others. Peter matured into quite the teacher and leader himself. He was a raw, unfinished block of wood when we met, but I shaped him into a beautiful sculpture.”
“I love the story of him sitting on the roof fasting when the vision of animals on a blanket came down from Heaven,” said Eileen. “God was saying, ‘Peter, I made all things on this earth, so it’s okay to eat them.’ Then the next day, he went to the Gentiles’ house and entered inside. If not for that vision, he would not have entered the man’s house.”
“It’s because of things like that, Eileen, that you have been granted this visit.” The Carpenter nodded. “We have outstanding things ahead for you and Dalton, too.”
“Really, what things?” I asked eagerly.
“Ah, ah, ah, not so soon, Dalton,” intoned the Carpenter. “I will reveal it when the time is right. Trust Us. We won’t guide you wrong. If we tell you now, you will worry and make your plans. Be ready and on the look-out for when the Builder has you act.”
“Yes, sir,” I said. “I get it.”
“Why were we given the gift of this . . . well . . . miracle boat?” asked Eileen.
“The full revelation of this gift will come in a visit later on,” promised the Carpenter. “But one of the principal reasons is your faithfulness and willingness to listen and act on what you hear. Many of your brothers and sisters pray to ask for things, but they don’t listen to the answers given. What stands in the way is they are seeking answers in the manner they want to have happened—the outcomes they expect, not what is best for them. They allow their human selves to block the Builder’s guidance and direction. Then, they get off-track and it’s the grace of the Builder that keeps working to keep them on track. We don’t give up on them. The Builder has unlimited grace.”
“Does He ever get angry?” asked Eileen. “I know as a parent, I love my children unconditionally; but sometimes, they drive me crazy and make me mad when they just won’t listen to me. My daughter liked this boy, but I could feel that he wasn’t good for her and I told her. They dated, anyway, and lo and behold, he hurt her.”
“Yes, our Builder gets angry in a righteous way,” explained the Carpenter, “but He loves His children just as you love yours. He is saddened when His children make free will choices that are hurtful. Tell me, what happened to Eva when the boy broke up with her?”
“She came running home crying. I hugged her thinking, I tried to warn you, but I didn’t say that. I held onto her. Then she said to me, ‘Mom, I should have listened to you,’ which made me smile, but it also broke my heart because I don’t like to see my children hurt.”
“What happened the next time she was interested in a boy?” asked the Carpenter.
“She was more careful,” said Eileen, “and she would tell me more about him and then have me meet him as a test. ”
“So, she learned, and the next time, she listened and took to heart your guidance?” prompted the Carpenter.
“Yes,” answered Eileen.
“It’s the same with the Builder,” said the Carpenter. “Each of you was created in His image with the ability to make your own choices and decisions. Some lessons you have to learn on your own, and some are more painful than others; but the Builder and I are molding you and allowing these things for your good.”
“Dalton and Eileen, my time before you is limited. I do not make many of these visits, though I am always around.”
“Hey, speaking of that, when we have these miracle moments between these two worlds, why does my watch stop?” I asked.
“Ah, that,” answered the Carpenter. “Time is precious on earth. Visits with your loved ones are precious. We want you to be free to spend as much time as possible with your loved ones without taking more time away from your earthly world. Our Builder stops earth’s time when Johnny Bruce bridges the gap between the two worlds. Time stops for you and others in those visits, too.”
“Amazing!” cried Eileen. “How is this possible?”
“Oh, Eileen,” said the Carpenter with a smile of delight beaming on His face. “Certain things that come from the Builder you have to accept, even if you don’t understand. It’s a gift. All of this is a gift. Your service to others is far-reaching. When you joined the Team, you were made to be a valuable person to Our Three Persons. I was on this earth briefly, but in that time, I prepared and trained twelve others to continue with the service. I breathed onto them the breath of the Spirit. Each of them had unique gifts, unique roles unmatched by any other, that work in synchronicity. In the same manner that mammals breathe in oxygen breathed out by plants, the plants breathe in carbon dioxide breathed out by the mammals of this earth.
“Even though the body has many parts, it is all made to work together as one body. If the entire body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the entire body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact, the Builder has placed the parts of the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. There are many parts, but one body.”1
“Oh my,” I said with an exhaled breath, “those are the words of Paul from First Corinthians. So, that confirms Paul’s words.”
“Came from the Builder,” said the Carpenter with a smile. “We entrust you to make the most of your gifts and talents.”
The Carpenter reached into the boat, grabbed an orange bobber from the floor, and tossed it into the water. Concentric circles rippled from the bobber. “I have placed you to be a ripple effect on those around you. As that ripple spreads—as it has from the ripple of the bobber—the effect you have on others widens and spreads. Do not keep this to yourself—this love, this additional wisdom, and this experience. You have a choice to use it for good or for bad—or worse, for nothing at all. The character that we have seen from you shows us you will use it for good. Your life experiences are for a reason—every one of them—even that time when John Millington locked his keys in the van. Eileen, even that time that you wanted to go into town and go dress shopping, but your dad had you go out to the dock first. Dalton, your motor broke down at the same time. Coincidence? No, it was part of a plan.”
Eileen squeezed my hand, and I heard her sniffle. We always thought it was meant to be, but how many people get to hear confirmation from Heaven?
“My Lord,” I asked, “does this mean we are to share this boat with the world?”
“Oh, no,” answered the Carpenter, “this is to be kept very quiet. Otherwise, the entire world will be at your doorstep hoping to see their loved ones that have passed over. Some for good reasons, a lot for not good intentions. The boat would be stolen from you in no time. Keep this to yourselves.”
Eileen asked, “Will we always have these visits when we go out in the boat?”
“Visits between Heaven and earth—no one on this earth can make those experiences happen. They are granted by the Builder, the Spirit, and Myself. There will be times when you will sense the right thing to do to share this gift with another outside of your family. You know that in your heart what you are to share with others. Tell them your story. Tell them My story. Tell them of the love given to you and that you want that love shared with them. Do your best to guide them.”
Eileen and I nodded and continued to listen rapturously.
“If I stand atop a mountain and use a signal mirror to send you a message in Morse code to you down in the valley, you are immediately ready to mobilize into action to those in the valley rather than waiting on Me to climb down the mountain to give you that message or having to climb up to the mountaintop to receive the message from Me. I can remain atop the mountain top receiving messages from above and from hundreds of miles around the mountaintop because my vantage point is high. As signals come from you to be atop the mountain, I can send those to the Builder.”
“Dalton, you heard the messages from the boat. You and Eileen acted on it. You were in pain and lost in your grief, and Eileen was doing everything she could to comfort you, but it had to come from above. Because you listened and acted in that direction, we gave much to you.”
The Carpenter paused and then continued, “The greatest gift you have is salvation. But We have also given you the gift of each other and the gift you have together of raising Eva and Ned so they will come to know and understand more about our Builder. You are a lighthouse on this earth to your family and friends. Continue to let the light shine. Your time is not complete. Look ahead and apply your experiences for use tomorrow.
“Dalton, you have been the gift of writing and speaking. Take what you have experienced in life so far and share it in words and speech. Go beyond the traditional methods where messages are usually given. Go to the marketplaces or wherever people are gathered seeking relief from their suffering.”
The Carpenter smiled at us, as we hung onto His every word. “There are people today who have lost a loved one similar to you. Boldly tell others how you got beyond those first days. Give the message of hope so it will not tempt them to follow the same escape.
“Eileen, you have the perspective of a mother and spouse who has battled depression within your home. You have overcome it, so share your story with your authentic way of storytelling. I know you are not comfortable on stage, but you can share your story and what was helpful to you.”
“Be a megaphone for the Builder’s Word—for my Word. Be a lighthouse, helping others to safety, promise, and hope.”
“I get so nervous when I speak to groups,” protested Eileen.
“So do I,” I chimed in.
The Carpenter looked upward, then looked at us, pointed upward, and said, “That’s when you have to depend more on the Spirit and the Builder to guide you, more than your abilities. When that sense of nervousness comes over you, something is about to be done through you. Pray up, too, because it also means that the enemy is about to derail you.”
“How long can You stay?” Eileen questioned the Carpenter eagerly.
“I’m always with you, even though you cannot see Me. Be ready. As soon as I leave, someone will come to undo the good that you are doing.”
With that statement, the Carpenter reached down with His hand and sank the bobber below the surface. The bobber floated back up, but it was farther away from Him with rougher ripples.
“Trying times may come; rough waves may rock the boat; but our Builder will always surface.”
“Dear Lord,” said Eileen, “we have so many more questions. There is so much for us to learn, and we need to know . . . ”
“Ask your questions, and be ready for the answers. I cannot answer everything today. I cannot give you all-knowingness, which is up to the Builder. Draw on each other; We put you two together for a reason. The two of you united are stronger together than you are as individuals. Make the most of it. Fight away the battles when the evil one tries to pull you apart.”
“The evil one. Interesting initials, E.O.,” I commented.
“Yes, I don’t think he is worthy to mention his name,” declared the Carpenter. “He just keeps nipping at my heel, and I just keep stamping his head.”
“My child Eileen, my child Dalton, I must go now.” The Carpenter stood up.
“Can I hug You?” pleaded Eileen.
“Why, yes.” The Carpenter smiled, extending His arms.
Eileen and I both reached over and wrapped our arms around this Man—the Man, this Carpenter, and this Son.
“Thank You!” we said together. “We love You so very much.”
“I love you, Eileen and Dalton,” assured the Carpenter. “Know that more experiences are in store for you because of Johnny Bruce. Go now and continue to make more students and teachers.”
The Carpenter stepped away from Johnny Bruce, and just as He’d appeared to us, He vanished in the same way.
1 1 Corinthians 12:12-20