The Symbolic Mourning Doves

This is an excerpt from the novel Common Sense: Listening to the Spirit.

Jim and Lilia unsaddled and unbridled all four horses, brushed them down, and released them into the paddock. Lilia leaned on the paddock fence, and gazed thoughtfully at the meadow behind the paddock. It looked golden in the setting sun and perfect like the Garden of Eden. Green leaves reflected gold and it was as if a halo shone over every plant. Two doves lighted on the fence opposite her.

She said, "Look Jim, two doves." The two doves coo-cooed and sang a sad song to each other.

"It's evening. Aren't they morning doves? Why are they here now?" Jim asked with interest.

She looked at him with meaning, "They're not called morning doves Jim, named after the earlier part of the day, but mourning doves, named after the emotion of death."

A moment passed while she stared into space. Jim watched her carefully and knew she had received special knowledge of some kind. Up until now, the day had been perfect, so he didn't ask her, and he didn't want to know.

"Pray for strength Jim, we don't have what it takes to get through life on our own. Remember what it says in John 15:5 ' . . . apart from me you can do nothing.'"

He understood that something portentous had happened. He let it go. He wasn't Lilia and he didn't have the desire to know of the future or anything other than right now. He tried to distract her with his affection and love, and she let him. She also understood that her knowing couldn't change anything, so she let him wrap her in his arms. They most certainly had their moments of passion, but this wasn't one of them. It was a time of contentment in perfect peace with each other and their surroundings. They listened to the birds sing their last song, and then to the chorus of crickets and frogs. It relaxed them both so much just leaning on each other that they didn't want to lose the moment, and they let it be.

Lilia sighed, and turned to kiss Jim softly. He said with quiet peace, "It's been a real nice day honey. I'd better go home. I love you." He kissed her so sweetly that Lilia heard the singing of angels. They surrounded the couple and poured out a literal chorus of melodic harmony. He ended the kiss and gazed at her carefully.

"Jim, do you hear the chorus of angels singing?" she peered up at him with sincerity and awe.

"No honey, I don't," he replied uncertainly.

"They're celebrating something.The music makes our music on earth sound like the banging of cans together. It is perfect bliss," she said as she hugged him.

He hugged her back, kissed her on the forehead, and then gently caressed her lips with his. He said, "I wish every day could be like today."

"I do too, my Jim." He held her hand extended out and said, "I guess I should go," even though he didn't want to leave.

"Good night Jim, I love you," she cooed. He turned and walked to his truck. He felt full of peace, love, and God's Light.

Dog Training Man: Arrow the Pharaoh Service Dog

I first noticed the Pharaoh service dog in the red vest as he and his owner walked through the airport in Atlanta. He was a magnificent creature. He had a long torso, a lean conformation, and a sleek head. He looked a lot like the dogs pictured at the pyramids in Egypt. In fact, they were his ancestors.

I didn't expect to ever see the man and his beautiful dog again. My husband and I boarded the airplane to Los Angeles. As the plane roared down the runway for takeoff, my husband said, "Did you notice the dog under the seat next to you?"

There he was, the lithe, royal-looking Pharaoh dog. He rested under his owner's legs and spread out under the legs of the man in the center seat as well. The man mentioned to me that Arrow was new at flying.

I petted the exquisite dog's head. Arrow became nervous and started to shake due to the airplane floor vibrations in takeoff. He scooted over to my side of the aisle and leaned up against my legs. The dog felt comforted when I slowly stroked his back and cooed to him that everything would be all right. Eventually, he stopped shaking and the owner encouraged Arrow to climb back under his legs, Arrow's assigned resting place.

My curiosity was piqued, and so I asked the owner, "What function does Arrow perform for you?"

"He senses when I'm about to have a seizure," he replied.

"What does he do when that happens?" I inquired.

"He goes crazy and jumps all over me, which is to remind me to take my medicine," the owner smiled.

"That's remarkable," I replied with astonishment. "How does he know? Does your scent change?"

"Some doctors have told me that, and some have said that it's because of the increased activity in my brain waves," he explained. Now, all the people surrounding us on the plane listened to the conversation, too.

"That's very interesting," I replied with wonderment. I giggled and said, "I have a male Westie at home who goes berserk when I walk or talk in my sleep. I guess he's a service dog, too. My female Westie could not care less. How do you train your dog or find the right animal?"

"They test the dogs for certain characteristics and awareness. I train the dog myself, or I should say, he trains me, and then we can travel anywhere together." We chuckled together. The owner continued, "I was in Las Vegas a few weeks ago. Arrow and I retired to our room and turned in for the night. In the middle of the night, he barked crazily and jumped all over me. People talked loudly in the hallway outside our room. I thought perhaps that they had set him off, and so I turned over and went back to sleep. An hour later, I woke up on the floor and all the bedding had been torn off the bed. Arrow laid on the bed with his legs crossed and stared down at me with superiority. He threw me his smug 'I told you so' look."

I laughed at Arrow's sense of humor and attitude. "I guess it pays to listen to your service dog," I smiled in return at the man.

We returned home to Los Angeles, and finally crawled into bed around two o'clock in the morning. I awoke to the furious barking by my male Westie, MacGregor, and realized that I was sleeping on the rug in the hallway. Every time that I venture out on my nocturnal meanderings, MacGregor is the catalyst to wake me. I understood that God had given me a service dog, too, to help protect me, and that knowledge gave me peace. "Gregs, thank you for your alert demeanor and caring heart. You're a good little service dog," I cooed to him as I cuddled and petted him profusely.

Sometimes we think that we choose the animal, and sometimes we think that the animal chooses us. Maybe the truth is that God pairs us together because of our natures. In other words, he created the person and dog to have an affinity for each other. It's just another way that God looks out for his children. If in that small way, the Lord protects his sheep, how many more ways do you think there are of which we are completely unaware?

Beautiful from the Inside Out

 This is an excerpt from Confidence: Reliance on the Spirit:

The Christian family Wednesday night dinner had two extra guests this week, Sister Martha and Darrell Linderman, a friend who had lost his wife. Lilia's grandpa and his stunning redheaded Mandy prepared dinner at the ranch with their guest, Sister Martha, who had come to Kauai to interview for the position of school principal. She was the daughter of a good friend. Mandy busily put together her favorite down-home dish, "French Country Roast Chicken," a recipe that she had invented herself. She completed her preparations and slid it into the oven to bake.

"Mandy, that dish smells scintillating! I can't wait to taste it!" Sister Martha commented with enthusiasm, since food was her favorite thing. "What can I do to help?" Sister Martha asked as she tied a flour sack towel around her waist.

"Martha, why don't you make the salad? I'll slice the baked bread. It should be cool by now. All the ingredients for the salad are in a plastic bag in the lettuce drawer of the refrigerator," Mandy instructed cheerily.

Sister Martha went right to work. Mandy had formed an instant bond with Sister Martha. She was sweet, gentle, helpful, kind, and sympathetic, and she was a good listener. Mandy thought that she would make the perfect school principal and hoped that Wailua Elementary School hired her.

"What is Darrell Linderman like Mandy?" Sister Martha asked with curiosity. She wasn't being judgmental. She was simply doing her research to enable her to be a better conversationalist with him.

"I don't know him as well as Jacob and Francine, but I can tell you that he is a changed man!" Mandy laughed and lifted her eyebrows for emphasis.

"How is he a changed man?" Sister Martha inquired.

"The great Master in the clouds now walks by his side," Mandy smiled with happiness.

"That's wonderful, Mandy, I don't have to wonder if he knows God or not," Sister Martha smiled in return.

"What does he look like?" Sister Martha solicited with a twinkle in her eye.

"Well, you'll see him for yourself in a few minutes," Mandy giggled. "I don't think it would be fair for me to describe him. It's sort of like the way I feel about Apele. To me, he is the most handsome man in the world. Other women might not feel the same way," Mandy explained as she smiled knowingly. "In college, I had a girlfriend named Sharon. She was not a raving beauty. Her nose was incongruous and she had a crooked smile with teeth that needed some work. Sharon dated the gorgeous quarterback of the football team, Tex. Most people couldn't figure out why. I knew why. Sharon had a beauty that shined from the inside out. The Lord had transfigured her into a raving beauty in the eyes of Tex. Everyone who took the time to know Sharon said she was beautiful," Mandy completed her tale, placed the bread in a basket, and covered it with a napkin to keep it warm.

"I wish someone would look at me and feel the same way, now that I'm no longer in the convent," Sister Martha replied with hope. "I don't like to wear makeup. I know I'm a little overweight. God made my features plain, my butt larger than normal, and my hair a mousy brown. I'm no man magnet! That's for sure!" Sister Martha tittered at her own banter.

"You're funny Martha. I'm going to call you Martha from this point on instead of Sister Martha, and then maybe you'll start thinking of yourself as a woman and not a nun," Mandy winked at her with a smirk. "Martha, you're like Sharon. You're beautiful from the inside out. It shines all over the place like a light. Well, in fact, it is a light, the Father's Light," Mandy said graciously. She walked to the oven and removed the chicken roast. "Well, it looks like dinner's ready Martha. Shall we go join the rest of the family in the atrium? I'll come back for the roast once the salads are eaten."

The two women carried the booty to the atrium where thirteen-year-old Lilia, Francine and Jacob, her mom and dad, Apelehama, Lilia's grandpa, and Darrell waited for them.

"Darrell, I'd like you to meet Martha," Mandy said nicely. Apelehama gave Mandy a quizzical look, since she dropped the moniker, "Sister." Mandy explained, "I've decided to call her Martha, since she is no longer in the convent. She's a woman just like other women," Mandy announced with a brilliant smile. "Martha, this is Darrell Linderman." Martha and Darrell shook hands.

The moment that Darrell looked into Martha's eyes, he saw the light shining there for all to see. His hand lingered on hers a moment longer than it should have. Martha noticed and gave Darrell a glorious smile. Darrell could feel the warmth of her personality emanating from her.

"Would you like to sit here next to me, Martha?" Darrell offered and pulled out her chair.

"I'd love to, thanks for your chivalry," Martha said, glowing, as she accepted his assistance.

Darrell smiled engagingly at Martha, happy the first time since losing his wife, Linda, and his son, Larry. Darrel thought to himself, "Martha is the most beautiful woman I have ever met in my life."

Lilia's Best Friend Has Lockjaw

This is an excerpt from the first young adult  novel in "The Faith Fiction Series." The name of the book is Innocence: Simplicity of Spirit.

Francine allowed her twelve-year-old daughter to enter her best friend's sick room by herself. Mele's mom and Lilia's mom hung outside the doorway and listened.

Mele lifted the compress and showed Lilia her thigh. The injury was the result of a fall from Mele's horse onto a rusty barbed wire fence.

Lilia observed the ten-inch diameter wound, and said, "It looks like you've been shot with a bow and arrow. There's a great big hole in the center."

"I'm very sick Lilia. I don't know if I'm going to get better," Mele whispered slowly.

"I know Mele. You know I want you to get better," spoke Lilia softly, "but if God wants children to keep him company, then we know that you'll be in the hands of the only One who loves you more than all of us." Francine, Lilia's mom had to turn away because Lilia's words touched her so deeply. She would have to remember to tell Jacob, Lilia's dad, about this.

"Thank you for being my best friend, Lilia. If you and I are still friends in the future, I know that you will always be dear to me, even though you can be a snot sometimes," said Mele with a great effort.

"I know Mele. I'll try to be better. I've always loved you so much.," said Lilia sweetly and serenely.

Mele's mom, Ioka, approached the bed, and said, "Mele, let's change the compress and see if you can get some rest." She understood that all their emotions could use some calming.

"Time to go home Lilia," said Francine. Lilia knew she had said everything she had wanted to say, there were no more words. Francine and Lilia gave Mele a little wave, and threw her a kiss before they left to go home.

Jim and Jacob Select Derek as Lilia's New Bodyguard

This is an excerpt from the newly released Common Sense: Listening to the Spirit:

"Oh," said eighteen-year-old Derek with caution. He looked from Lilia's Chief of Security and eighteen-year-old boyfriend, Jim, to Jacob, her dad, to confirm what they told him about the temperamental sixteen-year-old musical prodigy, Lilia. He hesitated while he searched for the right words, placed his hand on his chin, and respectfully offered, "She's certainly a gifted girl."

Jim smiled in relief and patted Derek's shoulder. "Nice answer Derek, I appreciate your graciousness."

At that moment, the back door slammed and the three men's heads perked up to look out the window. Jim stood up rapidly and bumped against the chair to see over Jacob's considerable height. He watched suspiciously, as Lilia dashed to the paddock to escape the vigilant security team.

As soon as she whistled for her magnificent American Saddlebred horse, King, Jim said, "Uh-oh, let's go, Derek."

Jim pushed Derek up and out of his chair to get him moving. He peeled out of the front door of the ranch house, sprinted across the drive and around the pond, through the grassy area to the paddock while Derek pounded close on his heels.

"I'll stand by the gate, so she can't get out!" Derek yelled and charged towards the gate.

"It won't do any good." Jim chuckled and gave Derek a pointed look. "I'll get the bridles. How are you with bareback?"

"Good, no problem," Derek replied quickly.

Derek stood in front of the paddock gate to block it and watched curiously, as Lilia and King circled the paddock, aimed at the fence, and sailed up over it as pretty as a picture at a riding school.

He whistled in amazement, and said to himself, "I've never seen anything like that before and without a saddle, too."

"Hurry Derek, we've probably got a fight on our hands!" Jim warned him as he roughly handed him a bridle. "Take the sorrel quarter horse over there, Derek. I'll get Rusty. Let's get crackin'!"

The two men hustled to their horses, bridled the startled beasts, and jumped up on them bareback. The horses experienced a corresponding physical response of urgency and started dancing in expectation.

Bill, the point man for Lilia's security team, hurriedly jogged around the corner of the barn about to tell Jim his news, "I see you already know that the cat's out of the bag!" He hurried to the paddock gate to open it.

Jim and Derek jumped their steeds forward and galloped at a breakneck speed down the driveway as the gravelly stones spit up in the air.

"Take the outside of the fence Derek! Go over there! Try and cut her off!" Jim yelled and pointed where he meant at the outside of the meadow fence.

Jim rode fast and low close to Rusty's neck. He held his elbows in and down to avoid the velocity of the wind and to gather more speed. Jim and Rusty galloped furiously to the back of the meadow, and then splashed through the stream faster than they usually did. It wasn't safe for Rusty, but Jim knew she was ahead of him by a couple seconds.

Jim watched as Derek urged his horse faster with his knees. Derek and his horse tore to the back of the meadow and reached it just as Lilia and King sailed up over the fence with the ease of a trained jumper.

Derek pulled hard on his reins and yelled "Whoa!"

His horse stiffened all four legs, as if he had built-in hydraulic brakes, and slid to a stop in front of King in a cloud of red earth. That move halted King in his tracks. Derek observed Lilia's movements carefully and didn't know what she would do next. King danced impatiently in the hold, and then Lilia reined him to the left, spun on a dime, and reversed directions. The girl and horse expertly jumped back over the fence, as if flying was a normal everyday activity. They burst forth with the speed of a car.

Jim gained on her as she and King jumped the stream in an effort to escape. As Lilia and King landed on the other side, Derek watched in amazement as Jim rode expertly up to the astonishing equestrian team, slid to a harsh stop without losing his seat, and yanked her right off her horse onto his. Lilia shoved Jim in a belligerent rebellion and they both fell off Rusty in a heap to the ground.

"Huh!" Jim grunted as he felt the impact of the unexpected fall.

Derek jumped off his horse, hoisted himself over the fence, and ran as quickly as he could to the crash site.

"Are you both all right?" He questioned them with alarm.

"I think so," Lilia moaned in a small voice. She gazed up at another face framed in the sky behind Jim and asked in a shallow contrite voice, "Are you my new bodyguard?"

"Yes," he said shyly and looked down at her with care, "I'm Derek." He wondered about her temperament, since she had been so wild before and now seemed introspective.

"Hi Derek," said Lilia as she tried not to embarrass herself further. She said in an apologetic and still manner, ""I'm not always this wild."

Jim chuckled, and said, "No, you're not always this wild."

Lilia and Her Dad Learn More Grace

Jacob hoped that Lilia was in the car that was driving down the circular drive towards the ranch house, since she had not come home on the school bus. He recognized Ioka's car, the new white Toyota Camry. It was all repaired after the Valentine-the-goat incident. Lilia climbed out, thanked Ioka for the ride, and waved goodbye to Mele and her mom. Jacob watched with annoyance as Lilia slowly and thoughtfully climbed the veranda steps. He stood with his arms crossed in front of him. Lilia recognized the body language of an upset parent. She prepared herself for a lecture as she let the screen door slam behind her.

Jacob grilled her, "Why didn't you come home on the school bus Lilia? Why didn't you let me know that you weren't coming home on the school bus? You have a cell phone," said Jacob with an edge in his voice.

"I was waiting for the results of the cheerleading tryouts, Dad," explained Lilia quietly. Her head hung down in shame.

"You tried out for cheerleading after we asked you not to?" Jacob demanded to know and started to get angry.

"Yes Dad, it's hard for me to explain why it was so important. Mele is very popular and I'm not. I was hoping it would improve my popularity," said Lilia with a taciturn face that stared at the floor.

"Did you get on the squad?" Jacob asked as he maintained his threatening stance. He didn't know what they were going to do if she did.

"Yes Dad, I did," she replied softly and looked up at him.

Jacob heaved a huge sigh and asked, "Now what are we going to do? Grandpa, Mom, and I have very busy lives these days, not to mention that you do too, especially with grandpa flying back and forth to the governor's mansion." He gazed at her with disgust.

"You don't have to worry Dad. I gave up my spot on the squad so that Cindy could be a cheerleader. I apologized to Mrs. Hansen for wasting her time," said Lilia solemnly and slowly. She met his gaze.

"You did the right thing Lilia. That was nice that you cared about Cindy and her feelings. You've shown to me that you're learning more grace. Next time though, would you please call?" Jacob requested firmly and uncrossed his arms. He placed a loving hand on her shoulder, which urged her to comply with his wishes.

"Yes Dad, I will." Lilia promised him. I'd better go get changed and get to work. It's getting late." She said nothing more, but made her way to her room. It wasn't worth it, thought Lilia. It upset dad and made me feel bad about insisting on my own way.

"Good idea," said Jacob and closed the subject.

He had felt like yelling at Lilia and punishing her for being disrespectful to him. It was then that Jacob recalled what the Bible taught about raising children in Ephesians 6:4: "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." It meant that he shouldn't dole out punishment or discipline because of his own frustration or anger. Instead, he should be patient and handle the matter in a loving manner just as Jesus would have done. Jacob felt thankful that he had learned that lesson in his daily morning Bible study. He had come very close to exploding, and he was glad that he didn't. That would only have strained his relationship with Lilia, and then she probably wouldn't come to him with the truth in the future.

"Thank you, Father in heaven, for your guidance," he said with relief.