Windsong

Yes.

I will be 51 in January and though time sometimes errodes memories, this one memory remains intact.

I was 19, in this picture. I am kneeling on the mountainside above Llundudno (Cape Province, South Africa). Though you cannot see it, my hands are clasped, in a child's prayer.  A style of prayer, I had learned from my mother, when she taught me to say, “Gentle Jesus, meek and mild, look upon this little child.”

As I knelt for the first time in prayer since I had been released from Naval Detention Quarters, (known as “The House of Many Chimneys”…for it had a chimney above each cell). 

I had only just learned how to pray, a week prior when in the visitors room (a very private affair, not like the movie version of prison) and opened up my spirit to the Spirit of Jesus Christ, when I went down on my knees and lifted my hands up calling upon the name of the Lord. (Paul, says this is what one must do to be saved…something I did not know, having been brought up in relative ignorance to the things of the Lord.) 

My Officer in Command, Lt. Cdr Colin Chambers had brought me a book titled, 'Prison to Praise' by Merlin Carothers (a very grand old smiling man, these days). As I read I learned that I might ask for the streams of living water, that Jesus had discussed with the woman at the well of Summaria. (unbeknown to me at the time, Jesus had taught that all I needed to do was to come to Him and believe, and out of my innner most being would flow these streams.)

Not having any religious knowledge but a fair amount of spiritual understanding, I knew that if one opened up to 'a spirit', they would come in.  So I did not really get hung up like so many do, about 'feeling it', or 'sensing it' and just said, 'Thank-you' and went on with my life, with not significant change, and not concerned about it.  (smiles.)

So this picture is the fulfilment of those two prayers, and as I knelt and prayed, my simple prayer, “Lord Jesus, please save all the people of Llundudno”  (this is on the coastal road between Houtbay and Camps Bay, closer to Camps Bay and above Llundudno, which is right where the nudist beach, “Sandy Bay” is.)

I guess in a sense I was completely naked before God, spiritually speaking and so God filled me to overflowing with the wonderful Spirit of Jesus Christ and for about 12 days (I remember keeping a note of the time), I was on a spiritual plain that often seemed to even transcend this realm, and often did.  Infact I might say I became a serious believer in the supernatural, or other realm as a result of this experience and it has been that which draws me to want to know this Jesus better and better, and better. For Jesus is most certainly spiritually accessible as are all the spirit beings on the other side.  Having tried to find my own way in the early years, being more interested that my peers, I found the welcome presense of Jesus Christ, who had died and rose, and ascended more than 2000 years, I have made wonderful headway as a man, since.

Creatively, this was a pretty quick pastel, and there is a far more complex version in my spirit, but I guess I will have to wait for that. In the meantime I am writing (this, and a book) and working on a few new CD's.  Life is a stream and it is so nice to be hooked up to it…..Jesus.

Peace,
Eric.