Signs and Wonders, Red Carpet Walk-Los Angeles Part 1
Prince's POV
Prince and Bella had arrived back at her parents home with the rest of the family at about 1:00 AM. They were all very excited. The movie looked like it would be a huge hit and their performance was expected to keep the album at the top of the charts on several of their songs and the most incredible thing was those were the outcomes with just one of their two premiers having happened. The West Coast Premier would happen on the coming Saturday. They would return to LA on Thursday afternoon. The performers and their parents would be in attendance this time. The grands were heading back to Southfield and Atlanta on Thursday also. There was great pride being expressed in the four by their families, but Prince interrupted their comments to say that there were many other people that had helped in creating their success. He shared the extreme contributions made by Andy from giving him his first major gig at The Stork some 5 years before and for guiding him through getting a recording contract that was favorable to him with Arista. He wanted to also remind them of David's role in getting the book Another Chance to become a reality without which none of the wonderful things they had experienced tonight would have ever happened. He, of course, wanted to credit his sweet Bella for writing the book! He needed to remind them of Christian's flexibility in dealing with their desires and concerns. He wanted to acknowledge Elaine's hard work on the screenplay that they had seen tonight, and Carlos's amazing talent and love in helping with the band and calling him out when needed. He wanted to also acknowledge the fact that without Alejandro's guidance on what being a good man really was as his sponsor in Promise Keepers, he would have been just another cat with some musical talent who had no clue as to where that talent really came from and what honoring his Creator through it really meant. And his foundation of love for God, for music, for his fellow man came from his two first friends, his loving mother Savannah and his wonderful father Royal. Without that he would not be fit to be Bella's husband or Carlos's friend or the beloved adult son to his amazing parents. Without the simple love of his granny and grams and grandpa, he would not have understood the importance of generational family and would therefore not have made some of the solid choices he did. They were his examples of who he wanted to be when he looked forward and he was very, very grateful. As these thoughts came from his lips, his eyes filled with tears. He was remembering his last life and how none of those things had been true for him and therefore what a mess he had made of everything other than the music. The music was the beginning of it all, but it was not all...he knew this time around that there were many other things that were important..."family being the most important of all", he said as the tears found their way down his cheeks. Bella moved to him immediately and pulled him into a hug and was followed by his mother and his two grandmothers. His dad and Alejandro moved to him also putting their hands on his shoulders along with David and Andy who did the same. Each of them was saying thank you for his kind words in their own way as well as comforting him, but they were doing it as they always had through a display of love. Prince regained his composure and said I love you to them all and then moved to Carlos and Elaine and hugged each of them and without saying another word took Bella's hand and led her to their room. They undressed in silence. Words were not needed to express what they felt. Their gratitude was palpable. Once they had hung up their outfits after getting into their pajamas, Prince pulled the covers back and picked up his Bella and placed her in the bed. He laid down next to her, pulled up the covers and pulled her close and proceeded to just hold her for several minutes. He then said, "something changed tonight Bella, I don't know quite what, but something changed". "I know baby", she said. We will know what when we are supposed to know. He nodded as she laid her head on his shoulder. " I love you Bella". "I love you more", Bella said as he kissed her on her forehead. They fell asleep moments later.
Prince woke up just as the sun peeked through the snow filled clouds. A new blanket of white had fallen through the night and the silence that surrounded them as he awakened was incredible. As he lay there, with Bella's head still on his shoulder and his hand still holding hers, it seemed like a second quilt was covering them, this one made of silence and it was a lovely thing to experience. At that moment he felt extremely close to his God. The Universe was whispering to him but only he could hear it. It was saying 'you are my tool to help in the re-creation of the world. You will see many strange things to come...some terrible, some wonderful, but I will be the author of them all and they will be used for My purpose. Therefore no matter what you see, trust Me and My Plans as they are for the benefit of all. Prince heard these things in his mind, but the thoughts were masked. It would be up to him to tell Bella. She stirred and yawned as she awoke. "Good morning Bella". "Good morning Prince. How long have you been awake", Bella asked? "For awhile now", he responded. "It is so quiet, unusually so, even for a Sunday" Bella said almost in a whisper. "That is because, God and the Universe have been speaking", he said. Bella sat up. "Tell me baby". Prince told her what the Universe had whispered. When he told her about seeing 'strange things both terrible and wonderful', she asked him what he thought that meant. He told her that he had no idea, but his body had experienced goosebumps when the Universe had said the word terrible. Prince had sat up and his back was against the headboard of the king size bed. Bella took his hand and prayed, "Father please protect us and those we love, and all those who would do your will. Help us to do what you desire us to do in the coming days and years and to operate without fear but with the knowledge that you are in control. In the name above all names we pray, Jesus, Amen".
Prince got up and opened up the drapes and what he saw was amazing. It was a Snow bow or a Winter Rainbow. He had lived in cold country almost all of his life and had never seen one, but on this morning, there it was. "Bella come look at this". Bella came out of the bathroom and stood at his side as she pulled on her robe. What she saw as they looked out over the land behind her parent's house was both beautiful and mind blowing.
"It is a sign of hope", she said. She remembered all those years ago, on the morning after Prince's death, the rainbow that had appeared over Paisley Park. That had been a sign too. This one was even more rare but clearly meant to inspire and comfort them. Prince said, "call Carlos and Elaine and ask them if they want to go to church with us. Whether they do or not, we are going. We have much to pray about and to give thanks for". It was decided that they would go to 12:00 Mass. It was now 8:00 AM. Bella made the call to Elaine and Carlos and Elaine said they would be going with them. Bella shared that with Prince and the two of them went and showered and then went downstairs to make some breakfast. They would eat early as they could not eat for at least one hour before Mass if Bella was going to take communion.
Royal's POV
When they arrived in the kitchen, Kendra and Savannah and Prince's Grams and Granny were already in the kitchen making breakfast. Prince asked if they had looked outside yet. Kendra said they had and then said "Isn't it beautiful"? "It is a sign of things to come" Granny said quietly. As she did, Elaine and Carlos were entering the kitchen. Elaine made the sign of the cross as did Bella. Although none of them knew what it meant, these were some highly intuitive women of Spirit and they knew that the Creator was preparing for something that would involve great power. They prayed to be ready for whatever it was. Bella and Elaine poured and dressed coffee for their men and themselves. Their mother's and the two grands had already had some. They shooed the four out of the kitchen saying they would call them when breakfast was ready. The four went into the family room and Prince opened the drapes. Carlos and Elaine had seen the Snow Bow from the kitchen windows but here in the family room they were able to study it in greater detail. It was really something. The colors were extremely intense and it was truly beautiful. Neither of them had ever seen one before either. Royal and David wandered into the family room with hot mugs of coffee in hand. They saw the Snow Bow for the second time this morning. The first had been through the open drapes in the kitchen. The four performers reiterated how they had never seen one before. Royal and David said that they had. One had appeared in the sky many years before when they were both boys. It had happened after Royal's father had died. His mother had been weeping at the loss of her husband two nights before. She did not know how she was going to provide for her 4 children alone. She had let Royal go with David to Andy's house for an overnight as she had to go to the funeral home the next morning and she did not want the children there. They knew their father had died and that was upsetting enough. Picking out a casket was something she was not looking forward to and thought it would be traumatic for her children. The other three went to her sister's for the night. When she was just about to leave for the funeral home, the phone had rung. It was Royal Jr. He asked her to open the drapes and look outside. She did and then for the first time in her life saw a Snow Bow. Royal said it was his dad telling them that things were going to be alright. If it was him, he had been right. There had been some tough moments in the years ahead but she had managed to take care of all of them. Neither she or her son Royal had seen a Snow Bow again in their lifetime...until today. Neither had David or Andy it was revealed as they talked. Savannah called for Prince to come to the kitchen, he did and was asked to let the rest of the household know that breakfast was ready. Security came into the kitchen and they all sat down to eat the tasty breakfast. After they ate Elaine and Bella were doing cleanup when Elaine's phone rang. It was her dad, Andy. Both her parents and Carlos' parents would meet them at church for Mass. Elaine asked if they had seen the Snow Bow her dad said yes. He said he wanted to share something with her about it later. She said okay but thought that she already knew a little bit about what it might be. The household then went to their rooms to dress for Mass.
Carlos' POV
After breakfast, Carlos and Elaine had showered and taken their time in getting dressed. Elaine was wearing a Navy Blue and Red Winter suit and some Navy Blue calf high boots. Carlos had chosen a Navy Blue suit with Powder Blue shirt with a Metallic Red and Powder Blue dot tie. While dressing, Carlos shared that the story about Royal's mother was not one he had ever heard before. From the way he looked when Royal and David were telling the story, he did not think that Prince had either. He found it astounding as to how these parallel themes of messages of hope seem to run through their lives and the lives of their parents. It really made the case for their lives being directed by a higher power who when He chose to would connect the dots to allow them to see true glimpses of heaven and of his hand in their lives. Elaine said that she was seeing that too. The Creator was incredible!
Bella was wearing a Light Grey sweater dress that showed off her beautiful figure with Grey Snake calf high boots. Prince had chosen a Grey suit with a Purple shirt and Grey and Purple tie. They looked like exactly what they were, creative, successful young people! As they filed into St. Benedict's with David and Kendra and Royal and Savannah and the Grands right behind them, they saw Andy and Linda sitting with Alejandro and Nita. They went and completely filled up that pew. Father O'Rourke saw them and walked to their pew, greeted everyone and asked if he could get Prince and his friends to bless them with song today. Prince said "of course Father" and then saw his entire band walking up the Center aisle. The four got up and joined the band as he shared that they were asked to sing and play. Prince said they would do God and The Ladder. Father O'Rourke smiled as he knew of them both having attended the performance and premier last night and decided to let him replace one of the Choir's songs with God and to play the other during Communion. The choir would sing the piece just before Communion. The band and the four sat in the pew right near the Choir stand and waited for Mass to begin. The band took their places as Mr. Dooley the Minister of Music made all instruments available to them for the first song of the day. Sidney played the organ today while Prince took the piano and of course lead vocals. That rhythm guitar was played amazingly today as well. The support vocals were ethereal. The church was on its feet as they sang and played. When Prince went into his whistle register, any that were not standing did. There was shouting of Praise the Father, Praise the Lord along with Hallelujah and Holy Father...as the song came to an end the shouting and praising continued. Father O'Rourke had tears in his eyes as he heard the sound of Prince's soul in the music and a beautiful sound it was. The Mass continued and then the Choir sang I'm Blessed just before Communion. After the prayers to convert the Wafer and Wine to the Body and Blood of Christ, the Band took their places and began to sing The Ladder.
The Band played and the performers sang the song with such fervor that Carlos felt the presence of Angels in the Sanctuary. The feeling spread to Bella and Elaine as well as to Prince and the band. As they sang, Prince believed that he heard the voices of Sandalphon and Michael too. He looked around not seeing them, but he knew if they did not want to be seen they would not be. However as sure as his name was Royal Prince Anderson Jr., he knew that they were there. They finished their song with the church once again on its feet praising the Triune God. Communion had been given first to those giving communion and then to the choir, including the World Changers. Once Communion was complete and the holy cup and plate on which rested the holy Body of Christ were cleaned and put away until after Mass, Father O"Rourke stepped to the podium but he did not interrupt the praise, letting it finish naturally. He then began the Homily.
Snow fall is so beautiful. It brings not only a sense of beauty with it when it falls, but also a sense of serenity. Most of us do not like being in the cold for long periods of time for good reason, however, the snow and its presence in our lives is a blessing. It reminds us that although it can be thought of as a dormant period in nature, it is also a time of quiet that can lead to reflection about many things. Some of those things are our lives...our soul's condition, our spiritual well being, our spiritual maturity or the lack thereof. Winter and its snow serves a divine purpose. For some cultures it is a kind of death and it can be in the context of Christianity too...a death that will result in Resurrection when the Spring comes. And if the world continues, Spring will come as it is the way that our God created our World. Sometimes though we become afraid and we doubt. As human beings we have always done that. After the Resurrection, one of Jesus's own men, hand picked by Him, taught and trained by Him, doubted that he was indeed Jesus when he returned to the disciples. Doubting Thomas he became known as said, he would not believe unless he could put his fingers where the nails were in Jesus's hand and could put his hand into the hole in his side. Our Lord was merciful and so appeared to him and let him do so. Man feared the water of floods after the great flood was visited on the Earth and so the Father made a covenant with man that never again would flood waters cover the entire earth and sent a rainbow for all to see as a sign of his Covenant and to also remind him of his promise. It was his gift to man as a sign of the promise and their hope.
This morning a Snow Bow was seen throughout our Area and perhaps even beyond it. It is beautiful and it is also a symbol of hope. Our Creator is up to something and I can feel it in my bones. He is doing a new thing that will bring about great change. We will see some amazingly beautiful things but also some terrible things in the days to come. But when the terrible is visited upon the earth I want you to remember this day...the day of the Snow Bow, I want you to remember the music of this day...and the voices that you heard...for I heard the voices of Angels in addition to those of our friend and brother Prince, and Carlos and Bella and Elaine. I heard the voice of Heavens own Creations...and it would seem that part of the change that is coming will bring heaven and earth closer together...but not for all...only for those that love and serve our Father, the Creator of the Universe. Promise me that you will remember that as the Days of Change come upon us. Do you Promise, Father O'Rourke asked? And the Church answered, " we promise". "Amen Church" , Father O'Rourke said. "The mass is ended go in peace" he said and the body stood as Father and the attending priests and the alter boys walked down the center aisle of the church to the front doors.
The choir sang, We Have Come This Far By Faith as the procession led the way to the door and Prince and the band and the rest of the four sang the final song with them as the procession left the alter.
They returned to their parents and they all got up and moved toward the exit under the watchful eye of their security team. They said their goodbyes to Father O'Rourke and as they did Carlos and Elaine and then Prince looked at each other. Bella was so moved by the Mass that her eyes were down turned as they were filled with tears. Prince asked in thought, "Bella did you hear them"? Yes, I heard both Sandalphon and Michael". Carlos said to Prince, "I heard Angels in the choir today singing with us. I am not crazy and I know"...Prince cut him off. "No you are not crazy, you heard what you heard and it was real. Remember what Father O'Rourke said". Elaine who was standing next to Prince with her arm around Bella nodded her head yes...she too had heard and was crying happy tears. The Change had begun in earnest and they had experienced something beautiful, something special and it would serve to also change them.
As they walked out to their vehicles to head for The Stork Club for brunch, there were invisible eyes, red eyes upon them, watching them. The enemy had had enough! Now the Angels dared to enter into his realm? Satan would show them who was boss here. He would not tolerate any more of this crap from Heaven...he was the lord of this world and he wanted more evil in it...not more good. He signaled the demonic horde that had come with him to this place today. 'Hurt them' he said to his demons and then he heard what he, the Prince of Demons feared the most. He heard the voice of Jesus the Christ say..."do what you will but do not harm as much as a hair on any of their heads or I will destroy you before your time". Satan actually trembled at the voice of the Son of God. He would do all he could to make them destroy themselves then through his normal tricks...they would work he thought despite a sense of trepidation. They had to or there was no hope for him or his evil horde. Michael the Archangel heard his thoughts, furious that he could not just destroy him now. 'There is no hope for you anyway you unholy fool. I just pray it is I that the Creator allows to finally put you down for good', he thought to himself.
While this dialogue was going on between the Majesty of Heaven and the damned of hell, the sky had darkened suddenly as though it would now storm on top of all of the snow they had, but as they got into the safety of their vehicles, the sun once again came out. As it did the following images appeared in the sky...
The devil's face
Michael The Archangel
The enemy was like but a wisp of smoke before the Majesty of the Michael the Archangel. His beauty remained seen in the sky much longer than the quickly fading face of the enemy. All of the family saw the images in the sky and spoke openly about them. So did Father O'Rourke, 'God protect us' he said silently. 'Amen' Bella and Prince said also silently having heard the priest's thoughts. The four were beginning to understand that the enemy and his horde were always around but seldom seen. 'Remember this' Prince said to himself and to Bella in thought, trick number 1 has been exposed...create fear visually by showing his presence. Prince however knew as he had seen it with his own eyes...the enemy feared Michael and Michael would come if they needed him.
Father O'Rourke would devote many hours of prayer to the protection of these four young people and their families over future years...Satan had revealed his fear of them and his fear also meant he hated them. He was really afraid if he revealed himself. Of this the priest was certain. These four were true Soldiers of the Cross...and the battle had begun! As they prepared for bed tonight, Prince would hear Michael clearly in his mind say call Ray Burgess tomorrow. Prince thanked Michael for the thought, and he would heed his advice and call the decorated airman shortly after the sun came up tomorrow. But tonight he would hold his Bella and offer prayers to his Creator to keep her safe as he made love to her for his comfort and hers throughout the night.