Perhaps there was hope for him yet.
“All right go,” the stage hand pushed them out as the opening music started and they found their places in the darkness.
“And it was said that there was a great War in Heaven, started by Lucifer, the angel of music, against the Almighty Lord. After the war in Heaven, Lucifer fell, taking with him those angels that turned against the Lord, and taking with him the gift of music. Those angels that remained looked to earthly beings to assist them in returning music to praise the Lord.”
The boys, out of reach from each other, tensed, in their different positions on stage, waiting for their music, waiting for their light.
“Jinn, the Angel of Unity.”
Jinn crashed on the drums and the crowd broke into cheers.
“Ramiel, the angel of thunder.”
Ramiel strummed the bass and raised his hand to the audience, who shrieked in happiness.
“Isda, the angel of nourishment.”
Her light always shone, whether she was on stage or not. Tonight, a simultaneous spotlight shone on the front row of the audience. Isda stood, smiling graciously, and turned to the theatre, waving while the crowd gave her a cheer that put the boys to shame.
“Gabriel, the Messenger Angel.”
Gabriel, the golden haired golden voiced singer, got the loudest cheer. But tonight, something would be different. They waited until the crowds died down, waited until relative silence came over the auditorium before the voice boomed, continuing.
“And introducing Elijah, the prophet.”
The spotlight went on Eli and he raised his hand, timidly, afraid of their reaction, and stepped forward. Gabriel reached out, and joined hands with him, holding it up to the crowd. There was a moment of silence, some shocked surprise, and then the crowd cheered, almost over the finishing lines.
““These angels were sent to bring music back to praise the Lord. After the War in Heaven.”
They launched into their famous title song, and while it sounded different with Eli on the keyboards, his voice in the background, Gabriel had to admit that it was a good different, a different that made the music hit the soul even harder than before.
His voice held out fine until the fifth song, when he felt it catch in the final lines, in the fading notes that he was supposed to belt out. He held it for twelve of the 16 bars, and he knew that everyone in the band could sense it. He took several deep breaths as they set for the next song but nothing was working.
Lord give me strength, Gabriel thought, closing his eyes, and praying for the strength to go further. Give me strength to pass this torch to him.
If he signaled Eli, than the newbie would step forward and start the lyrics for the final song before intermission, and he was to join if he could. But if he did that, he would be admitting defeat, giving in, things that he never liked to do. He didn’t want to admit his lungs were failing, that he was running out of time, that he might die from this horrid disease.
Lord, give me a sign, he prayed at last, and opened his eyes.
He found himself looking right into Isda’s sparkling eyes, a smile on her face, her hand outstretched in praise. She could read the look in his eyes without effort, and he saw the smile fade a bit, and then saw her nod, slowly.
I love you, she mouthed to him, clutching her left hand over her heart. And in the eyes of his wife, he saw his sign, he saw his strength, he saw the reason he had to continue. In the eyes of this girl who had given up her place on the stage so he could be there, he saw the strongest and most beautiful power, he saw the true reflection of God’s love. In Isda’s sweet words, he understood that he must pass this torch, to make sure the message got shared.
I love you too, he mouthed to Isda and then turned to look at Eli, nodding. Eli looked nervous, but stepped forward as Gabriel took his microphone.
“Hey Seattle, you may have noticed this newcomer on the stage. Eli’s got a fantastic voice, and I’m a bit tired. So how about I be lazy and take a break, and let Eli share this awesome message with you?”
The crowd laughed and then roared, some with excitement, some with disapproval. Gabriel sat himself on the stool, away from the microphone, and picked up his guitar, strumming the opening lyrics of a new song, By God’s Grace.
“You ready?” he asked Eli, off mic, and the boy nodded.
“Then hit it,” he turned to Jinn and Ramiel. Eli’s hand shook as he gripped the microphone, but only beauty and pureness came out of his voice as he started the song.
By God’s Grace, I will prevail
By God’s Grace, I will draw breath
By God’s Grace, I will find love in a woman who over looks my flaws.
By God’s Grace, I will cease to breathe, and walk to the Kingdom to Heaven with the Lord as my Shepherd.
Eli rocked the show that night, and Gabriel was able to continue the show after intermission, by Eli’s grace and the break his voice had given him
By God’s Grace, he thought, as he finished the closing number. We will continue to fight for the War in Heaven.
War In Heaven Page 10