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God directing the universe and the affairs of humankind with wise benevolence.
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will. Ephesians 1:11.
“Are you excited about the duty assignments?” Mia asked as she plopped down next to Jude.
“I am. I’m anxious to get started and do my duty. Even though this has been more than pleasant, the wait has been far too long,” Jude said.
He looked across the vast expanse of fields. Trees like the one he rested beneath dotted the landscape sporadically as far as the eye could see. The soft grass gently swayed in the breeze. This had been the only existence he’d known thus far. He would miss it, but he was ready to fulfill his purpose.
“Yes, it’s nice. But I can only imagine that the World will be just as beautiful and pleasant. And the Humans. We’ll get to help and tend to the needs of the Humans. I’m so excited,” Mia said.
“Yes, the Humans,” Jude’s blue eyes brightened and he pushed the hair on his head back from his forehead. “It is considered a great honor to serve God’s most prized creation. Do you really think we’ll be Guardians?” he asked.
“Most definitely. How could we be anything but? I heard that each Angel’s assignment was chosen at the time of creation based on one’s particular makeup to fulfill the Will,” Mia said. She stood and twirled beneath a low branch, raising her arms in the air and letting her fingers tickle the leaves. Her white robe flowed outward as she spun.
“True, but that doesn’t guarantee we’ll be Guardians. There are many other options.”
“Yes there are many options, but I’ve never known one angel that was chosen for a duty they didn’t anticipate getting. It’s in our make-up. Our very core,” she said.
“I’m not so sure. I’ve heard of some who didn’t get what they expected. And I’m sure there were more who just accepted the duty as they were supposed to.”
“Well either way, any World assignment will be more adventurous than waiting in the Celestial Heavens,” she extended her arm out with her palm up, pointing across the plains.
“I’m just saying that the population has increased exponentially since the beginning and needs change. We’ll be assigned where we’re needed, that’s all. It isn’t prudent to get our hopes up or set our minds on one particular assignment.”
“Don’t be so worrisome,” she stepped over to him and ran her hand through his hair. “Who among us has a greater desire than we to help the Humans?”
“It’s not our desire that matters,” he said.
Jude looked up at her. Her eyes bore into his. Her soft smile begged him to confirm her thoughts. Doubt covered her face. She let her fingers drape down and softly caress behind his ear. She dropped to her knees and leaned close to him, placing her lips an inch from his. “We have to be Guardians. Both of us,” she said as she gripped his shoulders and moved her lips closer to his.
Jude stood up and stepped out into the sunlight. He extended his arms outward, pretending to absorb the bright rays of light. “You’re probably right. I will miss the Celestial Heavens, though,” he said.
“Not me,” she rose and stepped behind him, wrapping her arms around his chest beneath his outstretched arms.
Jude let out a long breath through his nose and closed his eyes. He lowered his hands and grabbed her at the wrists. He pulled her arms apart and turned to face her. He kept a tight grip so she would not re-engage the hug, “Mia, we cannot engage in physical contact. You know where I stand on the matter.”
“This is exactly why I can’t wait to get to the World. All this protocol and rules. The ever watchful eyes monitoring our every move,” she said as she pulled her arms free and turned her back to him.
“It will be the same in the World. Just because you have a duty, doesn’t mean you can disregard the rules. My obedience will not wane just because we are separated from the Heavens,” he said.
She spun around and stepped toward him, poking her finger in his chest, “Disregard the rules? Jude, you act like my feelings for you are a choice? That I decided one day to have them and that I can easily decide one day not to have them.”
“I’m sorry, Mia. I don’t feel the same way do. And you can choose not to act on them. You are my friend, and you should respect my wish in that regard.”
“Your friend? What does that even mean? We’ve spent eons here talking, watching, wondering, and waiting. And for what? The assignments will be given and then we never interact with each other anymore? Is that your definition of friendship?” a tear ran down her cheek, she stepped from beneath the shade of the tree.
Jude softly placed his hand on her shoulder and turned her to face him, “Mia, we have Philia. We always will. But we have a higher purpose than ourselves. Don’t let this dampen a time that should be for celebration. The assignments will come shortly and we’ll both get our wings. Then all this waiting will be forgotten. You’ll be able to serve your purpose, and this will be but a faint memory in time.”
“Is that what I’ll be to you Jude? A faint memory?” she shrugged her shoulder free and walked away across the grassy field.
“Are you excited about the duty assignments?” Mia asked as she plopped down next to Jude.
“I am. I’m anxious to get started and do my duty. Even though this has been more than pleasant, the wait has been far too long,” Jude said.
He looked across the vast expanse of fields. Trees like the one he rested beneath dotted the landscape sporadically as far as the eye could see. The soft grass gently swayed in the breeze. This had been the only existence he’d known thus far. He would miss it, but he was ready to fulfill his purpose.
“Yes, it’s nice. But I can only imagine that the World will be just as beautiful and pleasant. And the Humans. We’ll get to help and tend to the needs of the Humans. I’m so excited,” Mia said.
“Yes, the Humans,” Jude’s blue eyes brightened and he pushed the hair on his head back from his forehead. “It is considered a great honor to serve God’s most prized creation. Do you really think we’ll be Guardians?” he asked.
“Most definitely. How could we be anything but? I heard that each Angel’s assignment was chosen at the time of creation based on one’s particular makeup to fulfill the Will,” Mia said. She stood and twirled beneath a low branch, raising her arms in the air and letting her fingers tickle the leaves. Her white robe flowed outward as she spun.
“True, but that doesn’t guarantee we’ll be Guardians. There are many other options.”
“Yes there are many options, but I’ve never known one angel that was chosen for a duty they didn’t anticipate getting. It’s in our make-up. Our very core,” she said.
“I’m not so sure. I’ve heard of some who didn’t get what they expected. And I’m sure there were more who just accepted the duty as they were supposed to.”
“Well either way, any World assignment will be more adventurous than waiting in the Celestial Heavens,” she extended her arm out with her palm up, pointing across the plains.
“I’m just saying that the population has increased exponentially since the beginning and needs change. We’ll be assigned where we’re needed, that’s all. It isn’t prudent to get our hopes up or set our minds on one particular assignment.”
“Don’t be so worrisome,” she stepped over to him and ran her hand through his hair. “Who among us has a greater desire than we to help the Humans?”
“It’s not our desire that matters,” he said.
Jude looked up at her. Her eyes bore into his. Her soft smile begged him to confirm her thoughts. Doubt covered her face. She let her fingers drape down and softly caress behind his ear. She dropped to her knees and leaned close to him, placing her lips an inch from his. “We have to be Guardians. Both of us,” she said as she gripped his shoulders and moved her lips closer to his.
Jude stood up and stepped out into the sunlight. He extended his arms outward, pretending to absorb the bright rays of light. “You’re probably right. I will miss the Celestial Heavens, though,” he said.
“Not me,” she rose and stepped behind him, wrapping her arms around his chest beneath his outstretched arms.
Jude let out a long breath through his nose and closed his eyes. He lowered his hands and grabbed her at the wrists. He pulled her arms apart and turned to face her. He kept a tight grip so she would not re-engage the hug, “Mia, we cannot engage in physical contact. You know where I stand on the matter.”
“This is exactly why I can’t wait to get to the World. All this protocol and rules. The ever watchful eyes monitoring our every move,” she said as she pulled her arms free and turned her back to him.
“It will be the same in the World. Just because you have a duty, doesn’t mean you can disregard the rules. My obedience will not wane just because we are separated from the Heavens,” he said.
She spun around and stepped toward him, poking her finger in his chest, “Disregard the rules? Jude, you act like my feelings for you are a choice? That I decided one day to have them and that I can easily decide one day not to have them.”
“I’m sorry, Mia. I don’t feel the same way do. And you can choose not to act on them. You are my friend, and you should respect my wish in that regard.”
“Your friend? What does that even mean? We’ve spent eons here talking, watching, wondering, and waiting. And for what? The assignments will be given and then we never interact with each other anymore? Is that your definition of friendship?” a tear ran down her cheek, she stepped from beneath the shade of the tree.
Jude softly placed his hand on her shoulder and turned her to face him, “Mia, we have Philia. We always will. But we have a higher purpose than ourselves. Don’t let this dampen a time that should be for celebration. The assignments will come shortly and we’ll both get our wings. Then all this waiting will be forgotten. You’ll be able to serve your purpose, and this will be but a faint memory in time.”
“Is that what I’ll be to you Jude? A faint memory?” she shrugged her shoulder free and walked away across the grassy field.