It all began the night of the car accident.  I know that sounds 
really cliched, but it's true.  I was driving down the road, trying to get 
home in time for my little brother's birthday party.  The back seat was 
loaded with the gifts we'd bought.  The multi-colored wrapping papers 
gleamed dully in the dim light.  I had ended up trying to hide them at a 
friend's house, because my little brother's so nosy he would have found 
them all before his birthday even rolled around!  It was raining, and I 
scanned the winding ribbon of ashpalt ahead of me for any oncoming cars.  
Seeing none, I relaxed a little.  I looked over into the deep gorge 
on the left side of the two lane road, and saw the trees whipping and 
swaying in the wind.  I felt a chill and shuddered, as I had a strange 
feeling of danger.  I quickly shrugged it off, and turned my gaze back 
to the road.  Unfortunately for me, as my gaze had wandered, so had my 
hands.  I had slowly drifted into the other lane.  I heard a car's frantic 
honking and saw bright dazzling lights just in time to try to jerk the wheel 
to the right, left, anywhere that was out of the other car's way.  At the 
rate of speed I was going, combined with the slipperiness of the road and my
panicked swerving, my car soared headfirst into the gorge.  I threw my arms 
in front of my head and screamed all the way down.  All I remember was the 
trees rushing by, a sickening crunch, a searing pain, and the blackness.
     When I came to, I was standing in a room full of muted light, fog, and
shadows.  A grey-haired older lady came to me out of the fog and said, "Now
come along, dear, we can't wait around here all day."  She took my hand and led
me from the room.  She was a little on the plump side, and her manner of dress
and her hair reminded me strongly of my grandmother, who died last year.  She
led me to a large room that looked like the chapel of a church.  There were sprays
of flowers, and people standing around or sitting in the pews.  It seemed that there 
were people from all walks of life, from rich to poor.  Some were dressed in older
types of clothing, while some were dressed in the most outlandish costumes I've 
ever seen.  Then I looked up.  The ceiling and moldings seemed to be made of solid
gold, and everywhere I looked, there were precious gems and marble in the decorations. 
The more I saw, the more confused I got.  The little old lady took me to a pew and 
bade me to sit.  "He'll be with you shortly," she said.  "He's a very busy man."
     "Who?!" I asked.  By now my confusion had reduced my voice to a panicked 
wavering.  "Who is this man you're talking about?  And while you're at it, where 
am I?"  I looked up into her face.  It held a disapproving frown, just like the one
my grandmother's used to every time she was mad at me.  She sighed in exasperation.
"Barry Tyson, I'm ashamed of you.  Don't you know where you are?"
     It was then that I realized who she was.  "Gram?" I said weakly.
     "It's about time you recognized me.  I was always afraid that your reckless 
driving would be the death of you," she said sadly, as she hugged me, "and I guess I 
was right."
     "You mean...I'm dead?" I croaked, my mouth suddenly dry as the ramifications of 
this little fact hit home.
     "Yes, dear, you're in the waiting room for the newly deceased.  You have to wait to 
be judged.  I am the greeter, and I guide you here, and answer any questions you might have."
She sat down beside me and put her arms around my shoulders.
     "Does everyone come here?" I asked, still kind of shell-shocked.  "How can you be 
judged? I'm confused."
     "Well, dear, you can be judged one of three ways:  you can be sent on to heaven, 
or straight down to hell.  Or, what happens every now and then, you get sent back, 
either as an angel of sorts, which is rare, or simply reincarnated, with no prior 
knowledge of any of your lives or life, and you start over from scratch.  You are born 
again, you live again, you die again.  The reincarnation is usually for people who have 
been neither bad nor good, but don't deserve heaven or hell.  So, God usually sends them 
back to try life again.  Although you won't have any knowledge of your previous lives, 
you are usually a little wiser and end up making better choices than you did before.  
After so many lives, or when God of the Prince decides he can make a fair decision, then 
you go where you are destined."     
     "What was that about the angel business?  Why is it so rare that it happens?"
     "Well, because there are only two types of angels who get sent to Earth.  The 
Wish angel is usually sent for those who are really deserving and totally innocent."
     "What's the other type?" I asked, not quite believing this was all true.
     "The Guardian angel is sent to help people in trouble and help them make a difficult 
decision.  What you do, is play a fairy godmother, of sorts."
     "Why are there so few of them?" I asked.
     "There are so few deserving people out there these days."  Gram reached over and patted 
my hand.  She looked toward a door in the wall.  "Well, dear, it's time."
     "Time for what?" I said, feeling more than a little frightened.
     "Time for you to be judged, dear.  Good luck, and remember, I love you," she said, as 
she stood up and pulled me to my feet.  Without a word she led me to that door in the corner. 
It was nothing like I expected.  No fancy arch, encrusted with jewels or angels singing 
praises to the Lord.  It was just a plain door, with absolutly no adornment whatsoever.  
As I approached the door, I felt a strongly growing fear.  When I got there, I licked my lips 
and swallowed convulsively.  I had a crazy thought that if I touched that door, a disembodied
voice would thunder, "Not Worthy!  NotWorthy!  Damned to Hell!  Damned to Hell!"  I 
reached out, gathered my courage, and grasped the doorknob, pulling the door open.  An 
endless dark extended, with a single light beckoning in the distance.  "Go on," Gram urged.  
Hesitantly, I walked forward, and the door slammed closed behind me.
     At first I couldn't see anything.  Then as my eyes adjusted to the dark, I noticed a 
single light burning far away.  Stranded in the dark, I had no choice but to walk towards 
the light.  As I reached it, I realized that it was just a spread out light that reached 
everywhere.  I saw a handsome man sitting behind a golden covered desk.  The light gleaming 
upon the desk's surface gave the impression of solid gold.  He looked up and smiled, and 
gestured toward an empty chair in front of the desk.  His long brown hair shonein the dim 
light.  As I took a seat, he opened up a file about two inches thick.  I noticed the small 
circular scars on the tops of his hands. I couldn't see, but I was sure that if he had 
turned his hands palms up, I would have seen a matching set of scars to the first set.  
There was no doubt in my mind of his identity now.  His face was handsome, but care-worn, 
as though he had seen much hardship and sadness for most of his life.  But his smile was 
true, as was the warmth that lit up his face when he greeted me.  "Hello," he said,"My 
name is Jesus.  You may have heard of me."  He spoke softly, with a slightly 
self-deffering tone.  I felt a sense of awe race through me as I thought of who he was.  
He glanced down at the folder, and began to leaf through it. He read quietly for several 
minutes before he spoke.  He said, "It seems we have a small problem here."  When he said 
that, my blood ran cold.  "Hmm.  You seem to be a very special person, Barry.  You have 
been chosen to fill out a special mission for the Lord.  Based on your prior lives, we feel 
you have the experience needed to help us handle a small problem."  In my relief I realized 
I had been holding my breath, and proceeded to let it out in a great big burst of air.  
Jesus smiled at my nervousness, then went on with his explanation.  "You will be assigned 
to a person who is having trouble in their life.  You will be sent to help, guide, and give 
advice.  Her name is Mercedes Wakefield.  She has been in a deep depression for many months 
and has attempted to take her life several times.  She is quite shy. She is constantly made 
fun of and harassed.  It will be difficult, but I'm sure you will handle it with 
considerable skill.  You may stay here a bit before you leave, but you mustn't tarry long.  
Her life hangs in the balance even now, and Father considers her worth the effort.  He says 
she is destined for great things."
     "But I don't know how to help anyone!" I protested.  "Most times I can't even help 
myself!"
     "Do not fear.  I have great faith in your abilites, as does Father.  Now, here is her 
description.  She has red hair, and green eyes, and is very slender.  She has two matching 
scars encircling her wrists, and she loves music," he said calmly, smiling at me.
     I swallowed nervously, then said, "May I ask you a question?"
     "Yes?" he said, arching his eyebrows.
     "How do I accomplish my task?  What means do I have at my disposal?"
     "You may grant her wishes, and appear before her in a human form.  You can make 
yourself become physical to protect her, but the wisdom you pass on to her is your 
own."
     "So basically I'm her Guardian angel?" I asked.
     "Yes.  Now, go on.  Your grandmother is waiting for you."  With that he dismissed 
me with a nod of his head, and another file appeared to take place of mine.  I walked 
away, my head whirling.  I walked back into the darkness, no longer threatening.  
Instead it seemed to calm my overheated brain.  I continued walking toward the door, 
pulled it open, and stepped into the light.
     Gram was waiting for me when I opened the door.  "Well, dear, what's the verdict?"
     Slowly I said, "He told me I was to be a Guardian angel.  To a girl named 
Mercedes Wakefield.  I have to help her regain confidence in herself, or something 
like that."
     "Well, dear, you had best prepare yourself for your journey.  The trip back to 
Earth is not an easy one."
     "You're right, Gram.  But I just wish I knew what I was supposed to do.  I don't 
know how to help people."
     "I'm sure you'll figure out something.  I hate to be rude, dear, but I have to 
usher in the next person."  She turned, and motioned to an older man sitting in a 
front pew.  He walked timidly forward, wringing his hands.  Gram hugged me tight, 
and wished me luck.  Then she turned, and opened the door for the man and urged 
him to walk in.  I turned, and spotted a door with a sign reading, "Gateway 
Back to Earth".  Deciding I had nothing to lose, I stepped through the archway.
     I felt a rushing cold, a chill that permeated right to my very bones.  
There was blackness all around me, with the light of the cold stars twinkling all
around me.  It was a beautiful sight, but the pain was intense.  My body writhed 
in agony as I soared through the silent space.  Even thought I no longer drew
breath, it seemed that I could feel the sense of suffocation out in the deep regions 
of space.  Constellations and galaxies raced by my sight, as my mouth lay open in a 
soundless scream. My arms and legs felt like lead, for all the numbness I felt.  I have 
no way of knowing how long I was out in that frozen splendor, but it seemed like forever 
until I finally saw that shining blue and green sphere.  The beauty of it made me forget 
my pain, at least temporarily.  I found I could see it teeming with life:  could feel 
the souls reaching out for guidance and see the bright lights of the prayers and hopes 
of mankind.  Then I blacked out.

To be continued!!
Click here for Part II






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