The Angelic Occurrence

by Henry K. Ripplinger

  “Yes, Camilla and Jeremy are in the living room.”

  “Hi Grandpa,” yelled Joshua, as he heard Henry enter the house.

  Henry picked up his grandson and gave him a big hug. “How is my big boy doing?”

  “Come and see the Tonka truck that Nana gave me.”

  Henry set Josh down and was led by the hand into the living room.

  Camilla was already up and rushed to Henry. “Hi, Dad, so nice to see you. You must be spending a lot of time outdoors at the farm. You have a great tan.”

  “Hi Dad,” said Jeremy as the two men shook hands and then hugged.

  “Yes, I was doing a little work outdoors, trimming the shrubs and boy there sure are a lot of Monarchs this year, especially down near the Poustinia.”

  “You know, Dad, we have been out to the acreage several times this year and haven’t made it down to the bottom of the valley to see the prayer house, yet. That’s what you’re talking about, right?”

  “Yes, I got the idea from a book I read by Catherine Doherty. She’s a lady from Russia who came to Canada in the 1920’s. She was called to work with the poor and started up the Friendship House in Toronto and also in Harlem, New York. People were drawn to her faith and love of the poor in much the same way people flock to Mother Theresa in Calcutta. Anyway, in the forties, she continued to help the poor by founding a farm community in Combermere, Ontario, which came to be called Madonna House. The Marion Centre in Regina is one of the missions they have established across Canada. They are houses of prayer reaching out to the poor, feeding them and providing for them—”

  “Oh yes, we just took some of our clothes and Joshua’s toys down there a month or so ago. Isn’t that interesting? How is this tied to your prayer house?”

  “Yes, well as the story goes, one day Catherine discovered an old shed or granary on their land and it reminded her of the prayer houses back in Russia which are called Poustinia’s. They’re just a basic simple one room house with a cot, table and chair, a bible and enough water and bread to make a mini-retreat of prayer and fasting and coming to the Lord. So to make a long story short, she had the shed fixed up and it became the first Poustinia in Canada. The idea was so popular that she had several more built on the property for that use.”

  “Now you really have my interest, Dad. I would love to see your prayer house in the valley,” Camilla said.

  “Yeah, but Dad’s idea of a prayer house is probably more like a five star hotel compared to the one room sheds that Catherine has!” chimed in Jeremy.

  “I’m afraid Jeremy’s right, Camilla. Mine did start out as a one room structure, but then I decided to put an addition to each side of the room. To the front, a living room was added with patio doors facing the pond. To the back, a bedroom was attached. That’s where I put a cot, desk, chair, bible and a large picture window facing east and a view of the hills and meandering creek that feeds into the pond. To one side a small kitchen was built and to the other side is a bathroom and foyer entrance to the house. When you look at it from the top of the hill it has the shape of a cross.”

  “Yes, yes,” said Father Engelmann, “The setting is a paradise. I am looking forward to spending a week there when my holidays come up next month. It reminds me of the 24th Psalm: He leads me beside the still waters, He restoreth my soul…”

  “Yeah, I’m sure glad Father has been using it—”

  “Let’s continue this conversation at the table,” interjected Mary, wiping her hands on her apron. Supper is ready and I was so hoping the rest of the children would be here.”

  Henry twisted his wrist to catch some light in the dim living room… “Allison said she might be late…oh, I think I hear them now.”

  The sound of laughter and muffled voices drifted in through the screen door and then Justin burst into the house followed by Lauren and Allison.

  “Hi Grandma!” Justin rushed over to greet Mary who had her welcoming arms open.

  “Sorry we’re late,” the girls said almost in unison.

  “Well, no matter, you’re here and just in time. Dinner is just about all on the table.”

  Mary went in first because she knew she would never be able to get over to the stove once everyone came in. After much shuffling of the chairs and squeezing they finally were all seated. Mary could barely turn around to get the potatoes and vegetables from the stove.

  “It’s already getting cold, please say grace, David.”

  “Yes, yes!” Father extended his one hand to Allison and the other to Justin. Everyone followed his lead and soon all those gathered around the table were holding hands.

  “Bless us, oh Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive through Your goodness and bounty. And a special blessing to Mary not only for the food she has prepared but for the loving home she has created for Your honour and glory. We ask this through Christ our Lord.”

  “Amen,” everyone said.

  Justin was the first to dig into the broad noodles while Henry placed the large casserole dish containing the beef stroganoff before him and started to dish out a portion on each of the plates as they were handed to him.

  Soon everyone’s plates were filled and an unusual quiet moment settled over the room except for the occasional “mmmmm” and “is this ever good.”

  “Absolutely delicious, Mom,” said Henry, and everyone else chimed in with similar comments to express full agreement.

  “So your dad left to go back to Victoria?” Henry asked as he looked at Camilla.

  “Yes, it was so nice to see him. A week stay goes so quickly. It seemed a bit different without Mom being here. But I am so happy she came last summer and saw our new home and was able to enjoy the backyard and the sun, which they don’t always get on the west coast. Dad misses Mom so much… it just doesn’t seem the same since she passed away…” Camilla’s voice trailed off.

  “I know what you mean, Camilla. I still am not used to living alone without Bill. It’s been six years since he passed away and I still miss him.”

  “Dad was so impressed with how you came over and blessed our home for us, Father.”

  “It was my pleasure, Camilla. And I have to say you and Jeremy have such a beautiful home and backyard. It is so large and filled with so many flowers. My Anna would have loved a yard like that.”

  “Yeah, she sure loves flowers alright,” interjected Jeremy. “Especially those wildflowers that seem to be attracting so many butterflies. Just one more item is needed to literally fulfill her dreams.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Allison.

  “Camilla, for the longest time now has dreamt of wildflowers surrounding a gazebo. We tried to hire a carpenter to build one in the yard but the fellow we wanted was too busy this summer so we booked him in first thing next spring. If the weather is nice it will be built in time for her birthday.”

  “Wow, isn’t that romantic,” said Allison and then continued, “There are so many Monarch butterflies out at the farm. I just love their orange and black wings!”

  “It’s the milkweed plants that attracts them,” informed Henry.

  “That’s right!” said Camilla, excitedly. “Last spring when I was at the nursery buying some Lilac shrubs, which is one of my favourite spring flowers, I asked the gardener there which plants attract butterflies. He talked me in to buying a dozen Astelias plants. He said it’s the Latin name for milkweed plants and that they are sure to attract the Monarchs.”

  “And boy did they ever!” chimed in Jeremy once again. “It seems like every butterfly in the whole area around our place is in our backyard.”

  Henry couldn’t get over it. The more he learned of Camilla, the more connected she seemed to be to Jenny. Jenny loved Lilacs and the fragrance so much that it was her favourite perfume. And the next exchange between Lauren and Camilla confirmed it all the more!

  “Butterflies rem
ind me of angels. I just love watching them fly about in the air,” said Lauren.

  “Yes! Me, too!” remarked Camilla, her blue eyes sparkling. “And I love the guardian angel prayer Jeremy taught me shortly after we got married. I think it’s the prayer that has made me so much more aware of them.”

  “Mommy and Daddy and me say that prayer every night when I go to sleep, don’t we Mommy?” said Joshua, as he turned to Camilla.

  Camilla hugged Josh, “Yes, we do, Josh. Each and every night to watch over you!”

  Henry was stunned! Jenny loved butterflies and thought they were angels, too! He recalled how Jenny used to chase butterflies when they walked, especially near the outskirts of city in the east end. And how she told him that at night, when she was a little girl, butterflies would come into her room and she would see them as angels singing to her.

  “We all have an angel,” said Father, “it’s a wonderful gift God has given to each and every one of us to guide, comfort, protect and help lead us to the Lord.”

  Justin swallowed his food and said, “That was the first prayer Mom taught me, too…”

  The kitchen fell silent as the family recalled Julean. Softly, Justin began…

  Guardian angel my guardian dear…

  and quickly all those present at the table joined in to recite the beautiful prayer…

  To whom God’s love commits me here,

  ever this day be at my side

  to light and guard, to rule and guide

  my life forever and ever.

  Amen

  As Henry’s eyes welled, he noticed a tear in Allison’s eyes as well as memories of Julean came rushing back to them all.

  As Lauren began talking about the preparation she was making for her upcoming dance number with Saskatchewan Express, Henry couldn’t help but to be mesmerized by Camilla and how much she reminded him of Jenny. It wasn’t just her looks and mannerisms, but everything she revealed about herself. And… how different she was from her parents. Henry shook his head almost imperceptibly as he gazed at his daughter-in-law.

  Camilla caught his gaze for the umpteenth time and asked, “I always get the feeling, Dad, that I still remind you of someone you knew. I remember when Jeremy first brought me to your home, you seemed so surprised to see me and said that I reminded you of someone in your past. I am really interested, Dad, tell me who it is that I remind you of?”

  Henry blushed slightly, a little embarrassed for staring so much at Camilla. “Oh, that goes back a long time to when I was 15 years old. I finished Grade 8 and was just beginning summer holidays when a family moved in three doors down the street—”

  “And they had a daughter who was also 15 years old that looked like Camilla!” Jeremy blurted, teasing his dad.

  “Why yes, that’s right, son…” Henry replied a bit surprised by his son’s insightful remarks. “We spent the summer together …”

  Mary could see that Henry was uncomfortable talking about Jenny and the conversation was also unsettling to her as it reminded her of the letter; something she wanted to forget about.

  Mary interjected, “Yes, Henry and the girl next door spent the summer together, and two weeks after high school started she moved with her parents to Ottawa and was never heard from again. But what I can’t get over is how your father is related in some distant way to Julean’s Aunt Netta and Uncle Jacob in Cardston, Alberta.”

  Henry looked at his mom, surprised by her uncharacteristic interruption. Camilla looked at Henry, still wanting to pursue the discussion of the girl in his past life, but then turned to Mary and replied, “Yes, I was quite surprised too that Dad stemmed from a Mormon heritage. It all came out when Mom and Dad saw Netta and Jacob at our wedding. I suppose if we go back far enough in some distant way Jeremy’s mom is related to my dad’s family.”

  Camilla turned to Jeremy, “I’m glad it’s distant, I wouldn’t want to have married my first cousin.” Jeremy and Camilla nervously laughed.

  “Perhaps my next question or two is known by most of the people here, but I am always interested in God’s divine providence and how people come together. So how did your parents get to Ottawa and how is it that you settled in Regina?” Father wanted to know.

  “I could only have answered part of your question before last week, but since Dad’s visit he filled me in a bit more on the family history. “Apparently my dad’s great-grandparents moved from Utah in the United States in the early 1900’s to Cardston. They had six children and all were boys. Of those six, one was my dad’s father. At that time, a lot of the people in the community were moving out. Some went to B.C. and some went to Calgary, and that is where my father went after he finished high school.”

  Camilla looked at everyone, “I hope I am not confusing or boring you with all this?”

  “No, not at all, please continue, Camilla,” said Father.

  Henry nodded, as well, for his daughter-in-law to continue.

  “Well, Dad got a job at Eaton’s and worked his way up to be the department head of the furniture department. That is where he met my Mom, Valerie. She was a saleslady in another department. Anyway, in the early fifties, Dad was transferred to Ottawa. In 1963 he was transferred again to Saskatoon as manager of the furniture department, and then his final move was in 1975 to Regina. That’s when I started university, as well. Five years ago, Dad retired and they moved to Victoria. Since I had started university and had a job I liked and good friends, I decided to stay and finish my degree. And I am so glad I did! Otherwise, I would never have met Jeremiah!”

  Camilla turned to Jeremy and both looked lovingly into each others eyes as if they were still newlyweds.

  “Thank you for sharing that with us, Camilla. That was interesting to know how you were led here and into this family.” And then Father turned to Allison, “So, Allison, your dad tells me you are going to attend a bible college this fall?”

  “Yes, it’s in Radway, Alberta. I heard about it from a friend of mine and was immediately excited about it. I wrote away for information and an application form. It looked great, so I applied and got my letter of acceptance two weeks ago.”

  “I’m going to miss her at the gallery. She ran the shop first rate,” said Henry.

  “Well, Justin is doing a great job and for his age, his framing skills are excellent! The framer can’t get over how well Justin was learning to cut mats and he must have your eye for colour, Dad. His selection of mats for paintings and photos is excellent. If I were the framer I would be worried of being replaced by Justin.” Allison winked at Henry.

  Justin smiled, “No way, Doug is the best, I’m learning so much from him. Even putting up shows, he’s got such a good eye for hanging pictures.”

  “And you’re even good at matching which pottery compliments which painting the best,” Allison added.

  Well, let me get out the lemon pie,” said Mary as she got up and picked up her plates and cutlery. The girls wanted to help clear the table but there was no room, so everyone passed their plates to Father who turned and piled them up by the sink.

  “Well, maybe it’s best to go into the living room and give the girls a chance to organize things in here,” suggested Henry.

  Soon everyone was seated in the living room. Justin wanted to turn on the TV but Henry quickly corrected him. “No TV tonight, Justin.”

  Father Engelmann sat in Bill’s leather chair while Henry sat opposite the room on the couch. He wondered if his Dad’s spirit was with them. He knew Julean’s was. He could feel her presence. And just as Henry was thinking a bit more about family and how things change over time, Father’s next comments, as usual seemed to sum up what family was all about.

  “You know, we were talking earlier about Henry’s prayer house in the valley and what a wonderful place it is to go and rejuvenate and come closer to God, and yet a home is the greatest prayer house of all.”

&n
bsp; Father looked at Mary and continued, “What you and Bill have done, Mary, is placed Christ at the centre of your home and marriage. Your close personal relationship with Jesus has been such a powerful example of faith to your son and grandchildren. You have created a home that is built on a rock that doesn’t get washed away in the raging rivers of worldly values.

  “Sadly, more and more families have both parents working, stores open all days of the week and soon I predict till all hours of the night! Society has lost respect for the Sabbath and the healthy order of family living.

  “Yet, in spite of a world that is moving faster and attacking our moral fibres. You and Bill have been the beacons of light for Henry and his children. It is so true that the family that prays together stays together. Jesus said, “that where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them.’ Christ must be at the centre of a family and children witnessing this daily. We are there for one another to encourage, uplift, support, love and pass on the faith.

  “And what better way to do this than family dinner? In the hectic pace of our lives, besides daily prayer in the home, I would also place high on my list to keep family dinner a sacred time. It is that one time in the day we must be together and share our lives. I have always thought it so commendable that television or any other distraction never disrupts the conversation in this family. How the meal time gathering always begins in prayerful thanks and is never rushed. It is so clear to me that this is how we learn to listen and communicate with each other. This is how we stay in touch; keep the bond of the family alive. This is the time we share our joys and sorrows and laughter and instill family values.

  “Over and over just like this evening, I see the power of family dinner. How all of our cares are washed away by the sharing, laughter and support we give to one another.”

  Then gazing at all those present, Father said, “It is important for the children to realize what is going on here and how important family is. It is through our faith and love for one another, our care, respect and kindness to each other that extends beyond the home to the church and community touching the lives of all we meet. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches.