“Archangel St. Michael”
Information about St Michael:
Michael means “who is like God.” He appears to be the one to do battle against Satan and his band of fallen angels. He was chosen to be the chief of all angels and called an Archangel. He is also known as the good Angel of Death and also known as the Grim Reaper. Some religions in the world believe that Michael causes people’s death by coming to collect them and carries their soul to Heaven. Also, in the Roman Catholic teachings, St. Michael has four main roles. His first role is as the leader of the Army of God and the leader of heaven’s forces in their triumph over the powers of hell. The second and third roles of Michael deal with death. In his second role, he descends at the hour of death and gives each soul the chance to redeem itself before passing; thus, consternating the devil and his minions. In his third role, he weighs souls on his perfectly balanced scales. In his fourth role, Michael is also the guardian of the church.
“And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat upon him had a pair of balances in his hand.” Rev 6:5.
“And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold they were all dead corpses.” 11 Kings 19:35
Eddy Riffle’s lukewarm Christian beliefs are not strong enough to deter Abaddon’s presence and temptations. He has lost the love of his family and respect from his friends. He considers his own situation to be hopeless with no escape. He will not ask God for forgiveness and understanding and therefore is unable to repent. And, he refuses to forgive himself!
God Works in Mysterious Ways, His Wonders to Perform.
Enter St. Michael:
“A precious soul is hanging in eternal balance. As the guardian of the church, I must go. Either I appear as the Grim Reaper and collect his weary soul or I appear as the archangel of God in a vision to Eddy Riffle. I must look into his eyes and reach into his soul to find answers. Then, as it is with all human spirits through their own free-will, he, himself, will navigate his course.”
St. Michael kneels before he mounts his black horse: “Being lukewarm is failure and I pray that Eddy Riffle’s heart is not penetrated with wickedness but only clouded by forgivable transgressions that he is able to overcome.”
The angel then mounts his black horse for the journey to earth. For this heavenly visit, he dresses in golden attire and carries with him the instruments of justice and collection: the weighing scales and the flaming sword of death.
Off to Earth!
I was tired, double-dog tired. But I felt good because Bub (Mr. Client) just gave me a bonus. I sat back in my lousy rocking chair and took a deep breath. There I was in my cramped and stuffy office holding that much needed last pay check up to the light to read the numbers again for the fifth time – $15,000! I put my coffee cup to my lips for a sip when the door to my office squeaked open. I didn’t particularly want any more business, but I did need the cash – you can never get enough. My back was to the door and I was too engrossed to immediately turn around. Greetings would have to wait.
A gruff voice: “So, they call you Eddy!”
“So, they call you Eddy!” the visitor repeated himself because I was still paying little attention to him. Visions of myself lying on the beach with a fruit and cola (ha ha) in my hand had all my thoughts. “I need a vacation!”
“That’s right, mister,” I muttered as I continued to gaze lovingly at the check and salivating about what it could mean. “It’s fifteen large and I have a lot of plans for this baby. I’m on my way to Hawaii. The kids need shoes. You know, that kind of stuff.”
“You seem sure of yourself,” the visitor commented.
This time it caught me like a jab to the nose. There was something about the voice that got my attention. As I turned to meet the visitor, I felt uneasy and apprehensive. To me, the voice was like a bass singer whispering through a megaphone. It was the kind of voice that you only hear in the creepy movies. And, he looked just like me – “what the?”
So, there it stood, beside my desk and dressed in colors of gold from its fancy wraps to ancient-type footwear. And very noticeable was its flowing cape that hid large bulging shoulder pads or something else very large that I could not discern. I immediately jumped to an oddball conclusion. My very own conscience has rebelled and it’s facing me for a showdown. “No way!” I whispered.
“How can I help you?” I said with a nervous tone that invited my upper lip to twitch.
“I’m here for business!” it blurted.
I thought: “If it isn’t my conscience, who is it?”
I rubbed my eyes and my temples hoping this image was a mirage and it would disappear. It wasn’t and it didn’t!
My first take: On this man’s face there were no happy wrinkles on his cheekbones, like he never smiled, not ever. He looked to me like he was dead serious! And, to increase my alarm, he had an Arab-type sword which fit comfortably in his left hand and it had a shiny tip that drew my eyes and would not let loose. I felt trapped and under its influence. Trying to cool the situation, I offered the visitor some coffee and asked: “What’s the sword all about? We’re all friends here, aren’t we?”
Furrowing his brow, the bully spoke sharply: “I’m the boss-man here and I don’t need substance and I don’t have patience! I’m on a mission. Are you ready?”
The visitor then reached out his hand as to shake mine or maybe it was a vice-grip to restrain an unwilling participant. I paused and pushed back in my chair trying to elude his hand. I was concerned about his motive and about that menacing sword with the hypnotic glowing tip because it appeared eager to strike.
The visitor glared at me with his piercing eyes! At this point, I became irritated at his aggressiveness and he ticked me off. So, instead of reaching for his outstretched hand, I fumbled for my .45-caliber pistol that was nestled in my waistline. I was ready to shoot this loudmouth if he drew back that sword. If he was here to get me then I would beat him to the punch. My hand grasped for the handle of the .45 but I could not untangle it from my belt. It was no use because the blasted thing would not release. I had no choice but to refold my hands upon the desktop and look stupid and without reaching to shake his hand. The visitor surprisingly was not ruffled in the slightest by my actions nor did he question me about my stubbornness. I told myself, “Get a grip, you wimp!”
The stranger spoke: “Are you done, Mr. Riffle?” He paused for a moment and then he pulled back his hand and covered his sword back into its sheath. “Don’t worry about this sword – It has a mind of its own, sometimes. With the turbulent times on earth, it has been busy and needs to be reminded to take a break and rest its hypnotic beam of light.”
“Yes, I’m done,” I said. “But, what exactly do you want of me and what do they call you anyway? But first, let’s be clear about who you are addressing, I’m an attorney and a private investigator licensed by the state of Florida. If you’ve got business with me, then let’s get at it and quit horsing around. I’m in a good mood today with fifteen grand itching my palms, so don’t ruin it for me.”
From under his cloak, the mysterious illusionist then pulled out something new: “weighing scales.” He slapped them down in front of me on my desk. Then he asked me the big question: “Are you afraid of the Judgment Day and if your name is in the Book of Life and what these scales will reveal? These scales operate by their own merit and are not a respecter of persons. Deeds are deeds. What the scales reveal is not biased.”
I was somewhat sarcastic when I answered but I was taken back by his brashness. And, what right did he have to ask me those questions in the first place? So, I let him have my answer like Bogie would and with both barrels: "It’s a tough world out there. Has been since the beginning of time. From the day that you are born until the day that you die, something wants to take what you have. T
o name a few: plagues, viruses, famines, droughts, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, bacteria, floods, cold spells, hot spells, spoiled food, wild animals, tame animals, wild people, accidents, meteorites, sun spots, radiation, falling trees, gravity, exploding gas grills, carbon monoxide, falls off roofs, bad people, and everyday stupid stuff.
"And then your body takes over: You’re worn out, lonesome, can’t sleep at night, can’t stay awake in the day, friends gone, money gone, folks gone, teeth fall out, ears are ringing, can’t see, everything you eat makes you sick except ice cream, pain in every joint, and all you have to look forward to is pain and suffering, and you’re ready for the kingdom to come – if they’ll let you in. And, if not, they throw you in a fiery pit with the devil for all eternity.
“And you got the nerve to ask me: ‘Am I afraid of Judgment Day and if I’m listed in the Book of Life?’ You bet your life! And I got a lot to answer for!”
“I see your point,” the visitor replied. A smile then creeped across his face as he relaxed his aggressive tone. “I arrived to weigh your achievements on these scales and ask you one more question: Are you ready to go? I already knew your answer but I wanted to know if you knew the answer. It’s not God’s will that any soul be lost but all have the chance to work out their own salvation. So, I’ve decided to give you a reprieve: for the present.”
Eddy was shocked: “What does this all mean? Listen, I’m not planning on going anywhere right this moment and what do I need a reprieve from? I may be down but I’m not out! And, I’ve been wanting to ask you a question: Why do you look so much like me? – it’s like looking in a mirror.”
“Don’t get excited, Eddy. I know this appearance of mine is disturbing but I did not want to scare you too much before I finish this mission. Looking at one’s own face tends to make mankind feel more at ease than looking at a stranger. I will leave you with this message: Your future depends on one person – you! Soon, you will be charged with some tough decisions before I return with these scales. I will be back! I want to meet The Deacon. He’s in there somewhere and wants to burst out. There is work to do. By the way, my name is Michael.”
The visitor then pulled his gold sash down low to shadow his stern eyes as he backed toward the door. I noticed that his gait was like that of a floating shuffle and not exactly a walk. I tried but I could not yell out what I was thinking: “Man, if I wasn’t scared before, I am now!”
The visitor must have read my concerns and my questions because he paused: “Your time is not yet, but instead a reprieve. But there is a mandate if you are to become the person that you were meant to be. Discover The Shield!”
“And: What man is he that liveth and shall not see death? Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave?”
The door to my office shut behind my visitor. I rushed to the window to see where he was headed and what I saw was baffling: A black horse standing in my front yard. Then, the visitor mounted, and it was like poof and they were gone into the air!
Not fully understanding what had just transpired, I slid back into my chair. I mumbled: “Well, that went well. I guess he doesn’t need my services. What do you suppose that he is selling me or telling me?”
The mandate. “What does that mean? Who was that guy? Why pick on me? Did I do something to the mob? Maybe he is just a crackpot full of self-righteousness and drunk to boot. That’s it, he’s just a nut!”
Having tempered my anxiety, I pulled the shades, turned off the light, locked the door, and made my way to the back room where I fell into bed for an anticipated restless night of wondering. “Deliver my soul from the hand of the grave. Wow, did that just happen? Was all of this just one of my bad dreams? And, how does he know about The Deacon? And how do I find that shield?”
Then a chilling thought slapped me right in the face! I jumped up and looked around: “Where’s my check? It was lying right here on my desk!” There was no check and there was no sign of Michael. “Did Michael take that check? If he did, he will need more than that Arab sword!”
Chapter Six
“Mammon Is Easy to Like”
I arrived at Domino’s after lunch – about 2:30. I wanted to case out the joint beforehand so I could stay those two steps ahead. Everything seemed normal, so I found a table at the back, in the dark, and secluded. I muttered to myself: “Did I want the money so bad that I would paint myself into a corner? Yeah, I guess I do.”
What will Eddy Riffle do for money? How far will he go? Is his mind so cluttered with guilt that he will become a “lover of money” just to satisfy his quest for self-punishment? How much can his conscience tolerate?
Eddy’s business connection with “The Employer of Bought Souls” will present him with a unique opportunity for wealth and mischief. In his mind, he feels that this course in the only choice. He needs cash for his family and for himself. He might do anything!
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36.
“And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee; then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” Luke 12:19-20
Next morning: For the next hour or so, I found myself struggling through coffee and donuts on my way to waking myself. I could not get those crazy thoughts out of my mind. “Was that goofball for real or was it all a nightmare?” And, my concentration was not that great this morning. It was like I was still asleep. To boot: I still had icing on my fingers and on my face and my fresh-from-the-dry-cleaners suit had a big coffee spot right on my lapel just under my chin. “Great! There are things that I must still do alright like wiping the sugar off my nose and blotting my lapel. What a joke. And, I ain’t forgot about that check, Michael!”
Ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, and ring: “Somebody must be having a bad day and needs me in a hurry. I hope they know the shape I’m in – not good!” I always let the phone ring seven times just to make sure they really want me. Besides, today I hoped they would hang up –“I don’t need another sad story.” But I answered anyway: “Hello, this is Eddy Riffle, your private detective for all needs and your attorney at law to keep it all legal.”
“Well, good morning, Mr. Private-Eye and Mr. Mouth-Piece. This is Mr. Client – but some people just started calling me Bub – like you. I want to see you right away. Don’t try to talk – just listen! Meet me at Domino’s about three o’clock, today. Don’t tell anyone and don’t call your detective buddy down on the force. We know about Sam Holler! It’s worth big bucks to you. We are trusting you for the time being, so don’t foul this up, get me?”
“I’ll be there, Bub – I could use the cash. By now you know me and how I operate. If I take a job, I’m yours. Just remember: I don’t take a case if it’ll send me to jail, or worse. Is that suitable? And I haven’t talked to Sam – since whenever.”
Reply: “This one will be a legal close call but you are a smart guy – being a savvy attorney and all. Figure it out so that you are ethical. It’s that simple. Be here on time! The capo will be at the confab so be on good behavior – he’s watching you closely.”
I made my way over to the safe, opened it and withdrew my police-special .38-caliber, 5-shot revolver. I slid that safety backup pistol into my waistband in the back and underneath my coat. “This might be dangerous. I hope I don’t need this!” Mr. Client’s capo was a big-time mobster that dealt in payola and collusion, illegal money laundering, vice, gambling, prostitution, and maybe a little worse. It’s funny how things that used to be against the law are not anymore – just ignored. I didn’t want to know too much about The Employer because that was dangerous! This much I did know: “He bought souls – hook, line, and sinker – once in, there’s no getting out – except feet first!”
I arrived at Domino’s after lunch – about 2:30. I wanted to case out the joint beforehand so I could stay those
two steps ahead. Everything seemed normal, so I found a table at the back, in the dark, and secluded. I muttered to myself: “Did I want the money so bad that I would paint myself into a corner? Yeah, I guess I do.”
The back door to Domino’s opened. Mr. Client, The Employer, and a few ugly men barged their way into the place like they were the chief cook and bottle washer. In fact, they were! And, I already knew just enough: They were well connected to the right people and not to be messed with or denied. If you knew too much, you faced a lit fuse. Hold that firecracker in your hand a bit too long and ouch! “Oh boy, what am I signing up for?”
“Hi, Eddy. Nice booth,” said Mr. Client. “Let the boys check you over – you know the routine – nothing personal. After all, you are a business friend of mine and I need your services. You’ve helped us a little in the courts now and then, so I think that it’s time we moved you up in the chain. Get where I’m going?”
Looking at the situation that I had gotten myself into, I thought it best to confess without answering. “If I’m a friend, I’d hate to see your enemies.” He laughed and that eased the tension. “I have my usual protection so tell the boys not to get alarmed. Nothing personal – just my work tools.” The Employer, a.k.a. the capo, sat nearby and casually sipped on a cola while playing with his phone. Bub was the emcee for this performance.
After a little laughing and joking and some rough frisking, I proved to be a man of my word. They let me keep my backup .38 and my .45 in my waistband. After all, I hadn’t heard the deal yet. Mr. Client: “Eddy, what I have to tell you might get you into a lot of trouble so don’t rat on us or let us down. Walk out now if it sounds too big. Do I make my point very clear?”
The Deacon and the Shield Page 5