January 3, 2008
GW

"Alright, we need to be going." Bob said. "I think it best if we put Tim behind the wheel of the SUV, I'll drive my truck. Like I told you, either Tom or Sam needs to be in the back, the other one will ride next to Tim. The smaller children just behind him. Kathy, you ride with me."

"Why can't we all ride together? The kids and us I mean." Kathy asked.

"Two reasons. First, to do that means we have to leave more food behind. Second, I could use someone riding 'shotgun' with me. Kathy, I truly feel that Tim is the better choice for the SUV. Those young men will need his guidance.' Bob smiled briefly, "Besides' you are the one with the most questions, and I did promise answers."

"What about the generator?" Tim asked.

"Leave it. Where we are going, the noise and light might give us away. Think of this as an extended camping trip."

Tim, Kathy, Tom, Sam, the children, and Bob gathered in the kitchen for a prayer of protection and guidance before moving to the garage and pulling the vehicles out. It was just starting to get dark. He was happy to see that the lights, both front and rear, which had been taped over, gave just a small amount of light. At this point, Bob stopped, reached underneath his seat, and pulled out a half dozen roadside flares.

"I'll be right back." was all he said.

Bob re-entered the home alone. As he walked down the hallway, memories of his life here with Nancy, and their son, flooded his mind. The Persian carpets muffled his footsteps for the last time. He gazed at the photos, and art work Nancy had collected over the years. He wondered for the thousandth time if his son had managed to survive everything so far, and how he was doing. He wished he could go to his son, and help him, as he had done so many times before. He knew it was out of the question. He was too far away, and in one of the cities that was under siege.

Walking back to the bed room he and Nancy had shared, He took one last longing look, ignited one of the flares, and tossed it onto their bed. Turning to the doorway leading to their sons' room, he did the same. Walking back through the house, he stopped only briefly at certain points, and lit more flares, and left them burning on the furniture. He had decided long ago, if the time ever came where he was forced to leave his home, NOTHING would be left for those who forced him out to use against him, or anyone else. Or to enjoy for themselves.

As he climbed back into the truck, Kathy looked at him. Then stared through the windshield. It didn't seem the time to ask questions, and the tears on Bobs' face told the story. In fact, she remained quiet as the slowly made their way out of town. She was only a little surprised when Bob stopped once, got a pair of bolt cutters, and set to work on a fence that was blocking their way.

Instead of taking the main road, he had gone to the back side of their neighborhood, to a fence that separated it from the development behind theirs. The fence was the only thing that prevented their crossing from one to the other. After the fence was down, Bob drove across somebodys' back yard, hit the road out in front, and made his way to a secondary road leading out of town. He knew it was little traveled, and hoped because of that, it would be unguarded. He was right. Soon they were out of town and heading into the night. Behind them, the glow of a major fire could been seen.

Two hours later, Kathy realized that they were going to be following the service road for the gas pipeline for some time to come. She had also noticed that the tears, and occasional sniff, from Bob had stopped. She began to ask her questions again.

"Bob, every step of the way, you have been ready for anything that happened. Now I think I understand what you were getting at with the Bible verses, and maybe I should have read that book, but even you said that nothing covered all this in fine detail. So how did you know?"

"You really haven't heard from them, have you?"

"Heard from who?"

"The angels."

"What? Bob now you are scaring me. What do you mean 'the angels'?"

"Just that, angels. You know, the messengers of God. You see, it is just like the Bible says in Amos. 'God will do nothing without revealing His secret to His servants, the prophets.'. Now I'm no prophet. However a friend of mine, whom God has used prophetically in the past, told me that when the time came for me to leave my home and get to a place of His choosing, I would be warned in a visitation by an angel."

"That is a lot of faith on really thin proof. Bob."

"True. But you know what is written. 'Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.' I placed my faith in what I believed to be a word from God. Like Noah, I moved to prepare an 'ark' without any sign that I was doing the right thing. I prayed about it a lot as well. Nancy always thought I was a little off center about it, but I did what I could." At the mention of her name, tears started to well up in his eyes again.

"Oh Bob. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories. I'm sure you'll see her again, when we get to Heaven."

"No, I won't." he sighed. "Nancy wasn't a believer. She was a very good woman, and I loved her very much, but she refused to accept Jesus Christ as her Savior. I won't be seeing her again. I'm mourning her loss."

Changing the subject, Kathy asked for more about the angels.

"So, did you get that visitation?"

"Yes I did. But before that, I got a dream. In the dream I knew I was traveling, and that Nancy's car was right behind me. I knew that I was running for my life. What I couldn't figure out was who was sitting beside me in the truck. I couldn't make out the face, and couldn't take my eyes off the road to look. As the dream started to fade, I was told, 'Be ready to help those I bring to you.' so even after Nancy was gone, I continued to make ready for whatever and whoever."

"So when did the angel show up?"

"Just before the gang bangers showed up at your place. I was told to stand for The Lord, and to rescue you guys."

"Was that all?"

Bob looked up for a moment and prayed.

"Show her, Lord. Please open her eyes for just a minute."

Kathy looked at him, wondering about his mental state. She looked back out the windshield, and gasped.

"Bob! There is someone sitting on the hood!"

"I know. He's been there since we left. When we get to a turn, he points the way to go, and I follow his directions."

"No, no. I mean there is someone on the hood that wasn't there a minute ago."

"Kathy, he's been there all along. You just haven't been able to see him. He's an angel. Look again"

Kathy looked out once more, and there was no sign of anyone either on the hood, or along the dirt road they were traveling.

"Ummm, Bob, I think I'm going to be quiet for a while."

"Probably a good idea. It is a bit much when you actually see an angel. I'm sure you have much to think about. Just think about this also. A lot of good Christian people have died since this whole thing began. We all have the same promise that The Father loves us and will do what is best for us, if we let Him. Who am I to say what is best for me in an hour, a day, a year, or whatever. That's in His hands. All I can do is to trust and obey."

On that, Kathy knew she could agree and trust.

GW, Vietnam Vet