by J. J. Park
“Look! Look, Arion!”
They saw Arion floating in the blue sky in the company of other winged horses.
“Glorious! I wonder who others are,” Gopan wondered.
“Perhaps winged unicorn and Pegasus,” Dyami recalled what Arion once said.
“Arion and his winged friends must be over the moon, flying all over the Elysian Fields,” Gopan responded enviously.
“O blessed Arion, immortal and magnificent. May you live in everlasting joy, love, and happiness,” Dyami said.
“By the way, how do you know the names of these butterflies and flowers?” Dyami wondered.
“I don’t know. I became a botanist and lepidopterist on the spot,” Gopan said in sudden realization, then asked, “What about you? Haven’t you gained knowledge instantly?”
“Yes, I didn’t even give much thought about it until just now. It all seemed natural,” Dyami answered, also surprised at their sudden transformation.
After the first excitement had died down, they stood still, breathing and bathing in the fragrant air for some time. However, the resting did not lessen Dyami and Gopan’s enthusiasm and curiosity.
They resumed their walk arriving at endless miles of long, extensive arbors of various tall trees. A variety of splendid birds perched on branches, parading colorful plumes and head fans.
A male Bird-of-Paradise opened wings into a shimmering black-blue fan on a rosewood tree, posing for a dance.
A male King Bird-of-Paradise swung the green-tipped tail and puffed yellow feather belly on the mahogany branch.
“Can you believe your eyes? “ Dyami wondered.
“Just look over there,” Gopan said, pointing toward a small forest.
Ficus, mahogany, eucalyptus, cypress, and acacia, all stood in the fullness of their beauty. The Goldie’s Bird-of-Paradise and a Red-billed Streamertail flashed their colorful feathers and long tails through lush leaves.
Victoria’s Riflebird’s puffed-up throat, Cockatoo’s pale-yellow crest, and spiraling multicolored tail of Wilson’s Bird-of-Paradise played peekaboo.
Nearby, in the shallow of a small lake, a grey crane stretched its long neck displaying a golden fan crown. On the meadow, peacocks strutted, demanding attention to their rainbow feathered fans.
Rapt in wonder, chattering, and wandering, they forgot about Mark but finally realized that he was no longer with them.
“Where’s Mark? He just vanished like smoke,” Dyami said.
While they looked around for Mark, they caught sight of a light shining from the far horizon.
“Do you see the light over there?” Dyami said, pointing toward the skyline. Without further words, they walked toward it.
“People come here after dying, but we haven’t died,” Dyami thought out loud.
“We’re in a vision of Heaven. Sooner or later, we’ll have to get back,” Gopan responded.
“What if I don’t play the flute? I wonder if that will keep us here. What do you think?”
Dyami speculated, but before Gopan said anything, Mark appeared a few feet away, waving at them.
“There he is! Where did you go?” Dyami asked, walking towards him.
“You were so busy looking around that I left you to enjoy yourselves,” Mark answered.
“Strange, but the wonderful thing is that we instantly became experts in birds, butterflies, and flowers,” Gopan said.
“That’s usual here. Have you ever wished to have infinite knowledge of everything? I used to think about that when I was on earth, but it is possible here,” Mark said.
“Are those birds immortal?” Dyami asked Mark, looking at peacocks.
“What do you think?” Mark asked back.
“I say, yes.”
“Then, it is.”
“We were talking about how we can stay here. Do you think that’s possible?” Dyami asked.
“It’s not my place to say yes or no, but the Archangel can answer your question,” Mark said.
“Archangel? Where can we find him?” Dyami pressed.
“He makes rounds regularly. I am sure he already knows that you are here. He knows everything that goes on here and in the world. Meantime, you can further explore the garden.”
With that, Mark led them through a long Arcadia onto open ground. Trees stood in clusters in the vast green field.
Walking along, they heard a roaring lion and instinctively stopped in fear, but reassured by Mark’s presence, then looked around to see from where the roar came. They saw several groups of animals mingling in open fields through trees.
Elephants, bears, hippos, rhinos, giraffes all circled, pawing each other.
The elephant waggled its head cheerfully, and the giraffe snorted.
The bear stood erect and touched the hippo’s paw.
The rhino rubbed its head on the giraffe’s leg in affection, and the giraffe, in turn, nuzzled the rhino’s back.
Another group was all cats; a lion, a jaguar, a leopard, a lynx, a cheetah, and a tiger. Regardless of size and strength, all romped and frolicked with one another.
Grunting lions and chirping cheetahs ran together amicably. A purring domestic tabby rode on the lion’s back.
In another circle, farm animals - horses, cows, pigs, goats, lambs - sprawled around mewing, snorting, oinking, and bleating.
Besides circling animals, a fox sat smiling at frolicsome barking dogs running around.
On the bank of a stream, a beaver shared juicy aspen branches with a moose.
“This is so surreal and unbelievable, but there it is,” Gopan said, enthralled.
“Are there people around here? Why aren’t they mingling with the animals?” Dyami asked.
“Heaven is unfathomable,” Mark mumbled.
***
The three young men continued their walk into the extensive meadow with streams and trees. As they continued, they finally saw groups of people spread out in the vast prairie between mansions.
Some talked with others, and some busied themselves in solitary activities. Regardless of the type of pursuits, everyone appeared to be in peaceful rapture.
They tried to see if there was anyone they knew. Dyami thought about his hero, Geronimo, and wondered if he had made it to Heaven. Both thought about Taza simultaneously but recalled that he never had embraced Christianity or accepted heaven.
“How sad,” they thought.
“Does anyone work here?” asked Gopan.
“There is work to be done, but different from the world. People know what to do when the Holy Spirit instructs them,” Mark stated.
“What kind of work?” Dyami asked.
“It’s not something I can explain,” Mark said.
At this point, Mark told them to continue on their own to find Archangel, pointing toward the horizon. The glimpse of light they saw earlier now glowed in multiple spectra in the distance.
As they walked toward it, a magnificent structure came into view, soaring into the Turquoise sky, its brilliant light overwhelming their eyes.
The peaceful music from an unknown source calmed their overstimulated nerves. They closed their eyes and continued to walk toward the palace.
When they perceived the brightness diminished to a tolerable level, they opened their eyes and saw the colossal façade with a detailed, intricate design in front of them.
Doves nestled along the cornice, symbolizing the purity of the place. Gigantic eagles with six eyes on each wing circled, gracefully riding on pure air. Others sat on the tower and pilasters, viewing, and observing surroundings.
As they came nearer to the grand palace, their size shrunk next to the enormous structure, and their visual field diminished. They could only see part of the portal. The radiant and sublime quality of arrangements on its façade stunned them.
The jewels of Heaven - emerald, sapphire, pearl, and gold inlaid the portal in symbols and the scenes unknown to them.
Again, immense lions with wings sat on each side of the colossal entrance. T
hey felt intimidated, but the creatures seemed to be unmindful of their presence. So they slowly circled the structure, looking closely at exterior walls.
As they circled, sublime, peaceful energy uplifted them. They started to laugh and dance. They remained in this euphoria for an unknown time until they noticed an angelic figure standing nearby, looking at them.
“I am surprised to find you two here,” the Angel said when they calmed down.
“We’re in our vision,” Dyami tried to explain.
“Vision? Your time isn’t up. How did you get here?” the Angel asked.
Dyami and Gopan remained silent, not knowing how to answer. They felt awkward and uneasy in the presence of a heavenly being.
“Arion and this!” Dyami finally lifted the agave flute.
“What is it?”
“This is a magic flute. It brought us here,” Dyami explained, though he sensed that Angel already knew it all.
“You must go back,” Angel said firmly.
“Would it be possible for us to come back here when our time comes?”
Gopan ventured to put forward his question.
“That depends. There’s a lot more you must learn and do in the world. First, you must believe and love God. You can start there,” the Angel answered.
“But before you go back, let me take you to the banquet that some of us are about to have. It’s lunchtime. You must be hungry.”
The Angel kindly invited them to a heavenly meal. Dyami and Gopan felt suddenly hungry. They had a fantastic day, and all their senses were exhausted and overloaded.
“Thank you. We’re famished,” both said emphatically, nodding heads.
The Angel blew the trumpet, and its sound carried them to a large banquet hall with seemingly endless windows looking out to the blue sky. Mirrored walls reflected happy people enjoying their heavenly meal.
Beautifully and appetizingly arranged delicacies brimmed over large tables in the middle of the hall. People spoke in all languages yet understanding one another, helping themselves to the heavenly feast. Dyami and Gopan did the same, feeling welcomed even though they knew no one there.
They loved their mother’s cooking, but the meal in Heaven was beyond words. When they thought they had enough, they found themselves back in the forest without blowing the flute.
***
They sat at the base of the old oak. The sun had moved to the west, and the forest was chilly but pleasant. They walked back home full of joy and happiness carried over from the vision. When they arrived at Dyami’s house, they embraced one another.
However, before Gopan could continue to his home, Kuruk caught them both, noticing their exceptional high spirits.
“What have you two been up to today?” he inquired curiously.
“We’ve been to Heaven, Grandpa,” Dyami answered.
“Heaven?” Kuruk immediately led them into the teepee.
“Grandpa, you can’t imagine how beautiful, joyful, and peaceful Heaven is. We saw all sorts of beautiful rare flowers, butterflies, and birds. Sweet fragrances filled the air. I think Geronimo was there relaxing and enjoying prairie even though we didn’t see him,” Dyami described what he saw.
“Geronimo in Heaven? He did become a Christian, didn’t he?” Grandfather said.
“Yes. Geronimo recommended Christianity to everyone. He thought it was the best religion in the world,” Gopan said.
“Grandfather, I think you should at least consider and look into Christianity, seriously,” Dyami said with conviction.
“After what those Blackrobes did to us?” Grandfather retorted.
“But it’s people, human beings that are at fault. It’s not Christianity. It has many good teachings. I wish you think about it, at least,” Dyami pleaded.
Kuruk kept his silence, drawing in tobacco deeply.
“There is no Heaven and Hell in our Apache religion,” Kuruk said after a long silence.
“There is Heaven and Hell in the Christian religion. It makes sense that Good rewarded and Evil punished, particularly to us, Native Americans.”
Dyami insisted, thinking that this was an excellent point to make to his Grandfather.
“In any event, I’m happy that you had a pleasant vision for change,” Grandfather said.
“I hope you at least consider trying out the church,” Dyami persisted.
“Enough for now.”
Grandfather ended the meeting brusquely.
FUTURE
“While there’s life, there’s hope.” – Cicero
The vision of Heaven opened Dyami and Gopan’s minds. They began to view events in their lives as opportunities to grow and learn.
Gopan got baptized at the Easter service.
Chenoa and Ela started the first year at the same college. Dyami and Gopan were delighted and proud of the two girl’s resolve. Their life seemed to be following a desirable and proper course.
Karl was now engaged to Mila and was busy with his new job. He was happy and had no hatred in his heart, having found love and hope with Mila and Donner.
Dyami received a letter from Susan, who was now living in Florence, learning Italian and studying history. She sounded much happier and upbeat. Dyami delighted in her progress and looked forward to seeing her again, renewed and changed.
Their lives had moved on, but at this point in their lives, the days were fluid.
All was possible.
ENDNOTES
1 Geronimo (1829-1909): Apache leader and medicine man, known for his courage and strength. He was a fearless defender of his people with supernatural abilities.
2 (Constructed based on “The Homeric Hymn to Apollo” (1-29), The birth of Apollo, Classical Mythology, Ninth Edition, Mark P.O. Morford, Robert J. Lenardon & Michael Sham)
3 Navajo Indian Legend.
4 Songs of Apache Indians - Google sites.
5 The Pharaoh Menkaure (2532-2503 BC) (Dynasty IV).
6 “without breeches”: people of the lower class in 18th century France.
7 Jewish prisoners, selected to assist the operation in the Nazi camp.
8 The Navajo creation story.
Author page
J.J. Park is an aspiring poet and writer. She has published essays in Christian Publications and hopes to publish her poem soon.
She is versed in French and English literature. She has traveled extensively throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The experience broadened her view of the world and her understanding of different cultures.
An enthusiast for nature and animals, she has observed and experienced the natural world closely. Her writings about them are authentic.
The Magic Flute is an imaginative work that weaves through cultures and time. It is a fictional work and does not pretend to be a historical account of any culture or period but only aspires to inspire and encourage adolescents in their journey toward adulthood.
The author appreciates reviews on the Amazon website.