Puzzle House

by Duncan, Lillian;

  The traffic started moving once again.

  She should have called before she left the office to let the people at the meeting know she was on her way. Oh well, too late now. Taking her foot off the brake, she made a right turn. Her heart stopped.

  A semi skidded, coming straight at her. The cars on either side of the truck swerved away from the out-of-control vehicle. The truck swayed one way and then the other.

  Without thought, Rachel slammed on the brakes. Her car spun in dizzying circles, but she could still see the truck, its jack-knifed trailer heading directly towards her. She squeezed her eyes shut, heart in her throat, terror filling her mind. “Oh, noooo…”.

  *

  Rachel opened her eyes. She was late. The meeting! Why was she laying here? Memory took several long moments to surface. Snow. Ice. Truck. Wait, it must not have hit her. She didn’t feel any pain. In fact, she’d never felt better in her life. So where was she and why was she here? She glanced around.

  A man stood in front of her surrounded by a light so bright she couldn’t see his face. No doctors or nurses. No equipment. Surely something must be seriously wrong with her. One didn’t hit a semi-truck head on and walk away from it.

  Maybe she’d slid out of the way at the last second and passed out from the terror. But if she hadn’t hit the truck, why couldn’t she remember? Must be a head injury.

  The man stepped closer, his features came into focus, but the brightness followed him.

  As her gaze connected with his, all her questions were forgotten. A warmth settled in her heart. No fear or worry. Only peace. A wonderful sweet peace.

  He smiled at her.

  She smiled back.

  He couldn’t be the doctor. Instead of a suit or scrubs, he had on a…she squinted to get her eyes to focus. Because obviously, she was seeing things. The man had on a robe—like from Bible times. She must have really hit her head.

  “My dear sweet Rachel.”

  As He said her name, a tingle went down her spine. She opened her mouth but no words came out. Her heart filled with…impossible. Finally, she managed to utter a single word. “Jesus?”

  “Yes.” The smile made His face glow even more.

  “Did I die?”

  “No.”

  “Am I going to die?”

  “Of course, everyone dies sometime. But this is not your day. I don’t want to talk about dying, I want to talk about living.”

  She definitely must have a head injury. But it didn’t matter. Jesus was here. Standing in front of her—smiling at her. Amazing! If it was an hallucination, it was OK with her.

  “It’s not a dream or an hallucination. I’m here. I’m real. Just as I promised, I am with you always.” He held out his hand. “Would you like to take a walk with Me?”

  When their fingers touched, she gasped. “My Lord, my Savior. I…I…I…” She couldn’t find the words to express her feelings.

  “I love you, too, Rachel. Ready to take that walk?”

  “If you think I can.”

  “Of course, you can. My strength will be your strength. I am with you as I always will be.”

  So much…love. Joy. And more. There were no words to describe it.

  She floated out of bed and looked down.

  Doctors and nurses surrounded her body. Blood streaked her face. Orders were being yelled as a doctor stuck a tube of some sort in her mouth.

  “Wow. It looks like I really got hurt.”

  “What do you expect when a semi plows into you?” He chuckled.

  And she did the same. “I’ve always been afraid of semis.”

  “I know.”

  “I always knew one of them would be the death of me. It looks like I was right.”

  “Things are not always what they seem, my sweet Rachel.”

  “That looks pretty clear to me.” She pointed down at her very broken body. Then she touched His cheek. “But You’re here, with me. I must be having one of those near-death experiences, right?”

  “You’ll not die today. Or tomorrow. You’re talking about dying again when I want to talk about living.”

  “But it has to mean something. The fact that You’re here with me, right?”

  “It does mean something. But not what you think.”

  “It’s OK, I don’t mind dying. If it means I can be with You.” Maybe it wasn’t a near-death experience, maybe she had died. “I can’t believe You’re here. I don’t deserve this.”

  “Love isn’t deserved. It just is.”

  Tears slid down her cheeks. “But I haven’t been very good… not much of a Christian. Too worried about…about other things.”

  “Still, I am with you always. Even when you’re too busy to notice…or to care.”

  She fell to her knees. “I…you…” She couldn’t find the words. “Love.”

  His hands moved to both sides of her cheeks. “I feel your love, your faith, your loyalty. You are my faithful servant, my sweet Rachel.”

  “I haven’t been all that faithful.”

  “I know, but still I love you.”

  “In fact, most of the time I haven’t even thought about You. Sure we go to church, but I’ve been too busy worrying about my life. And what I want. It’s always about me, me, me.”

  He reached out and took her hand. His other hand still touched her cheek. She lost track of time as they stayed in that position. Her heart swelled so much that love didn’t seem to be the right word. She’d never experienced such…such love and acceptance.

  So much was communicated in that span of time. Rachel had no sense of how long they stood that way. As Jesus took His hand from her cheek, she glanced at her broken body.

  A man in a white coat touch his beard and then said, “She’s stabilized. Let’s get her in for an MRI. Stat.”

  The gurney her body was on moved out of the room.

  “Ready to take that walk?”

  They moved from the emergency room with no effort on her part.

  The man from the emergency room walked up to her boss, Dan.

  A moment later Cooper rushed over to Dan. Her boss put an arm around her husband and spoke soft words. Cooper collapsed into Dan’s arms.

  “Are you sure I didn’t die?” Rachel asked. “Cooper looks very upset.”

  “Of course he loves you very much, but no you didn’t die..”

  “I suppose You would know. I can’t believe You’re actually here with me.” She smiled. “Don’t say it. I remember. You are with me always, right?”

  “Right. It seems as if people forget that so often.”

  Reverend Smith, the preacher who would lead the conference she was organizing in three days, came into the waiting room.

  Jesus pointed at the men, now holding hands and praying. “They are good and faithful servants.”

  “I know. I’m so blessed to have a godly husband in my life.”

  “So you are.” He looped his arm through hers. “Now it’s time to have a serious discussion.”

  “About what?”

  “About living, not dying. About your future.”

  “I don’t know. It didn’t look as if I have much of a future from where I’m standing.”

  “Be not troubled. You have a long future ahead of you, my dear Rachel.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. The question is what do you want to do with that future? You can continue on the way you have been or you can choose something else. You can choose a different life. One that will make a difference.”

  “Something else? But I wouldn’t even have an idea of what else I could do.”

  “God created you, each of you, for a purpose. His purpose is your dream. Are you living that dream right now, my dear sweet Rachel?”

  “Well, I wouldn’t exactly say that.” Of course, it hadn’t been her dream to work seventy hours a week. Too busy to spend time with her husband. Too busy to have a family. Too busy to…

  “Then what is your dream?”

  “I don’t know.
I guess when I was younger my dream was to help people. Sick people. But then I grew up. I didn’t have enough money or enough brains to become a doctor, so I didn’t.” She shrugged. “It even says somewhere in the Bible that you need to put away childish things when you become an adult.”

  “There is nothing childish about dreams, my dear Rachel. God gives you those dreams. His purpose is your dream. I need an answer from you.”

  “What’s the question? I didn’t hear a question.”

  “Are you ready to follow your dreams?

  “I guess so. Is that what you want me to do?”

  “The choice is yours. So here’s the real question I need answered. Do you want to be healed or to be a healer?”

  She stared at him. “I don’t think I understand the question.”

  “It’s a simple question, my sweet Rachel.”

  “Well, if I say I want to be a healer, I won’t be healed, and then I’ll die. And that means I won’t be around to be a healer. Yet if I say I want to be healed, then I’m being selfish and that’s a sin.”

  “I can see why you’re confused. I’m not trying to trick you. I’m simply giving you a choice.”

  “Good. I thought maybe it was the head injury I must have.”

  “Your answer has nothing to do with whether you die today or not. You will not die today or any day from the injuries you sustained in this accident. Or from any accident you may have in the future, so you can stop worrying about trucks, especially when you pass them.”

  “Oh.” That was a secret phobia of hers. “I guess I don’t really have any secrets from You.”

  “No you don’t. You’ll be fine.”

  “Oh. In that case, what was the question again?” She laughed. “I’m kidding. I remember the question.”

  “That’s one of the things I love most about you. A great sense of humor.”

  “It seems to get me in trouble sometimes.”

  “The same thing happened to Me when I was on earth. I remember this one time…” He smiled. “Well, we don’t have time to reminisce right now.”

  She squeezed his hand. “Oh, I would love nothing more than to do that. Right now and forever. I want to hear about your childhood. And what kind of a man Joseph was and what happened to him. And did you ever fall in love? And…”

  “And someday, we’ll be able to talk about all those things and more. But not today. The question remains.”

  “Right? Do I want to be healed or be a healer?”

  “That’s the question.”

  “I know what my answer is, but I don’t quite understand how…”

  “Life here on earth is not about certainty, my dear child. Life here is about faith, hope, and love. And love being the greatest.”

  She nudged him, her shoulder touching his. “Could we spend more time discussing all the things You love about me?”

  He smiled. “I will love you always. There is nothing you can do to make Me love you less. Love simply is.”

  Tears streamed down her cheeks. “That is so…amazing. So wonderful.”

  “Be sure to remember that, later.”

  “I don’t quite see how I could ever forget. Or even one word of what we’ve talked about. I suppose You’re waiting for my answer. But of course You know it already, don’t you?”

  He nodded. “But I want you to say it aloud. It has to be your choice. Not mine.”

  “I want to be a healer. I even started out in premed, but changed my mind. It would have taken too long.”

  “You are an impatient one. Are you sure about this?”

  She wasn’t sure about anything at all. “I want to be a healer.”

  “It won’t be an easy journey. But this I tell you, you have all that you need to be successful in that journey. If it’s what you choose.”

  “I do choose it. I want to be a healer.”

  His arms went around her. “Then so you shall be, my child.”

  When he stepped away, they were in a new room.

  An MRI machine enclosed her still body.

  “It is time for Me to go. Remember all that I’ve told you today. And remember I am with you…” His hand slipped from hers.

  She finished his statement. “Always.”

  He smiled and nodded. “Always.”

  She floated downward. Rachel opened her eyes, knowing exactly where she was and why. None of it mattered. Not slamming head long into a truck. Not whatever was wrong with her. She’d seen Jesus. Met Him. Talked to Him. He’d told her that He loved her, held her hand, and even hugged her. And given her the gift to heal people. Joy filled her heart.

  Cooper sat beside the bed, his hand in hers.

  She squeezed it as she opened her eyes. “Jesus was here.”

  “Oh, thank You, God. You’re awake.” He touched her cheek. “I was so worried…no, not worried. Terrified. You’re my life.”

  “And you’re mine.” A love that couldn’t be expressed in words filled her heart, her soul, for her husband. She repeated the words from before. “Jesus was here. With me.”

  “I know. I felt His presence too. I’ve been praying continuously. And not just me. ” Her husband’s hand squeezed hers. “A worldwide prayer alert was sent out on your behalf from—”

  “Reverend Smith.”

  His eyes widened. “How did you know that? He had his congregation across the world praying for you.” Tears streamed down her big, tough husband’s face. “I’m so glad God brought you back to me.”

  “Jesus was here. With me. He held my hand. Touched my cheek. We talked.”

  Cooper’s blue eyes widened, but he nodded with a smile. “With Jesus? I think I’m a little jealous.”

  Just like her sweet husband not to question her sanity, but simply to believe her. “Don’t be. He had nice things to say about you.”

  “Right?”

  “I’m serious.”

  He pushed the button in his hand. “I’m sure you are.”

  “Why’d you press that? To tell them I lost my mind?”

  “Not at all. They told me to do that the moment you woke up.”

  A nurse rushed in. “Is she awake?”

  He nodded, and then turned to Rachel. “And talking. She seems fine.”

  “Good to see you finally decided to join us. We were getting a bit concerned that you didn’t want to wake up.” The nurse nodded.

  “How long have I been unconscious?”

  “A while.”

  Before she could ask how long a while was, another doctor walked in. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Summers. I’m Dr. Wyatt.”

  “What happened to the other doctor?”

  “Other doctor?

  “Yeah, the young one with a beard.”

  “That’s Dr. Seaton. But there’s no way you could know that. You were completely unconscious when you were brought in.”

  “And yet I saw him stick a tube of some sort down my throat.”

  He looked at her, and then shrugged. “He’s in emergency, you’re in the ICU now. But not for long now that you’re awake.”

  “So how badly did I get hurt?” She braced for bad news.

  “It’s an amazing thing.” The doctor shook his head. “You don’t have any serious injuries from the accident. Some cuts and lacerations but not a broken bone or even a fractured one. Nothing.”

  Jesus had been right.

  “Why was she unconscious for so long?” Cooper asked.

  “Sometimes the body does what the body needs. We don’t always have explanations.”

  Rachel knew it was so she could visit with Jesus. “How long was I unconscious?”

  The doctor checked the tablet computer he held. “Five days.”

  “Are you kidding me? That means I missed—”

  “Don’t worry about the conference. From what I hear, it went perfectly.” Cooper held her hand. “Dan said you were so perfectly organized, all they had to do was read your to-do list. Everything got done. And the conference went without a hitch.”

&
nbsp; “I thought I was here maybe an hour or two. No wonder you were worried. But if nothing’s wrong with me, I can go home now, right?”

  Cooper laughed. “I told the doctor once you woke up he wouldn’t be able to keep you in that bed.”

  “That’s exactly where she’s staying.” The doctor held up a hand. “For now. As long as everything goes fine, you can go home tomorrow. No need to rush things. After all, you were hit by a truck.”

  “But she’s OK?” Cooper asked.

  “Fit as a fiddle from what I can see. I don’t have a clue how that happened. She’s a walking miracle.”

  A miracle. That was exactly right. Her eyes filled with tears as she thought back to the conversation with Jesus. She couldn’t wait to tell Cooper all about it. And that Jesus had given her the gift of healing. She focused back on the doctor.

  “We found something else.” His tone was serious.

  Cooper’s hand squeezed hers. “Something else? You never said anything to me about something else being wrong.”

  “I wanted to wait until she was awake. One step at a time. When we did the—”

  “MRI?” she asked.

  The doctor looked surprised. “How did you know we did one? You weren’t conscious at the time.”

  “I saw it.”

  “Saw it?” His voice was skeptical.

  She nodded. “Just before Jesus left, he walked me into the MRI room. Then he let go of my hand and I floated back into my body.”

  He stared at her. “Just before Jesus left?”

  “Yes, Jesus was here. With me. He held my hand and we walked and talked.”

  The doctor smiled. “I’m a believer.”

  “It was amazing.”

  “I’m sure it was. You aren’t the first of my patients to tell me about a near-death experience, but you’re the first to offer a shred of evidence. There’s no way you could know about the MRI or Dr. Seaton. That was done when you first got here. And you were very unconscious at the time. Can you tell me anything else about your experience?”

  “The MRI technician was a man…with red hair.”

  “Wow. That’s amazing, you’re right. I want to hear more about this later, but right now I have to tell you something the MRI found.”