Post by reverend on Sept 9, 2010 18:21:38 GMT
Location: Medical outpost, near the front lines.
Time: 1332
Weather: Cold yet sunny with a few clouds, no wind.
The sun shone though the windows of the small church. It was a shabby building, having been built quickly from rough-cut planks of wood that had been unevenly been nailed together. The windows where odd shaped from being cut into the walls after the building had been built and the door hung slightly open, unable to be fully closed, but it was a house of God none the less. A small wooden stage with an alter in the back right corner sat at the back of the church under a large cross that had been cut into the wall. The church was angled so that during sunrise, the light from the morning sun would burst though the cross, lighting the room with a heavenly light. During that time the rickety church seemed to truly be filled with the presence of the All Mighty.
Candles lined the small stage, burning silently and giving a small measure of heat to the room. The only person able to enjoy the little heat there was however was James Goodwill, who stool alone in the church, sitting cross-legged on the stage behind the candles with a large, opened bible sitting in his lap. He was casually flipping though the pages of the sacred tome, scanning the passages that he already knew so well in an attempt to come up with a speech for tomorrow morning’s service. So far nothing had jumped out at him. He wanted to give those who attended something to think about, other then the horrors of the war. This aid station was very close to the front lines, so it was always getting the sick and wounded in shocking numbers. It had gotten to the point that they couldn’t handle the mass amount of wounded that came though that they had to start tagging patients, caring only for those who would die before reaching the next aid station and sending the others to the next town.
James wanted to let the doctors and nurses know that what they where doing was making a difference, he wanted to inspire them and send them off to their bloody and gory tasks with hearts filled with faith. So far he thought he had been successful, for the past week he had seen smiling faces on those who left his hastily built House of God, and on a few occasions he had heard confessions from the nursing staff and doctors, forgiving them of their sins and allowing them to continue on with their life saving work free of guilt. But it wasn’t enough for James. He felt a large responsibility to these remarkable men and women to lighten the loads of their day-to-day living, once he even tried assisting a doctor with a wounded man, the surgery was successful and the soldier lived but still James felt that he had been in the way, more of a nuisance then a help.
Without being able to actually help repair the physical bodies of the wounded, James set out to help mend the spirits and souls of those who seemed to have lost their faith. He had spoken with a young man who believed that God had forsaken him by not protecting him from a grenade blast that had sent a large piece of shrapnel deep into his chest and almost piercing his heart. James had comforted the soldier, explaining that there were many people that the Lord had to watch over, and while the Lord hadn’t been able to deflect the chunk of metal, he had been able to save the young soldiers life, enabling him to return home to his beloved wife and child.
For those who could not be saved, James gave them their last rites and planted a cross with their name on it out behind the church. Thankfully there where only three crosses in the ground, due only to the hard work and skill of the medical staff who worked tirelessly to ensure that the best of care was given to those who came to them.
The thin wooden door swung open gently and James looked up to see a young nurse peek her head around the frame. James smiled warmly and rose to his feet, placing the open bible on the alter and stood in the centre of the stage, spreading his arms in a gesture of welcome. James was dressed in his Priest clothes from back home in Jackson, Tennessee. Long black suit pants and shiny shoes leading up to a tailor fit black vest over a white long sleeve shirt and black tie. Hanging over the tie was a highly polished silver cross on a thin silver chain. His black jacket was hooked on one of the nails serving as coat hooks near the door. He felt more comfortable in these clothes and only wore his military uniform on official occasions.
The nurse lowered her eyes and slowly stepped into the church, walking almost hesitantly up to the stage, she wore her uniform as standard, her light brown hair tucked up tightly under her cap, her dark green eyes however where bloodshot and her cheeks looked streaked with dry tears.
“Lieu-… uh, Reverend, I…” It had taken nearly the whole week for James to stop people calling him by his rank; he didn’t want the staff to feel like they couldn’t approach him due to his military status.
“I couldn’t turn to anyone else, you’ve always said if anyone needs to talk about anything that you are always available.” James smiled and stepped down from the stage, he wasn’t that much taller then the nurse.
“Please Susannah, tell me what is troubling you.” James gestured to one of the wooded seats that filled both side of the small church and she sat down.
“I… I just…” She burst into tears, covering her face. James put an arm around her shoulder and drew her into a hug, she sobbed into his chest.
“Its ok Susannah. When you’re ready tell me what’s put you in this state.”
“I just can’t take it anymore, no matter how many men we put back together there are always more waiting at the doors. I couldn’t walk into the surgery today, I managed to get up and dressed but… but I just sat back down afterwards and I curled up under the blanket and cried.” She chocked on almost every forth word as she tried to control her tears.
James had quickly gotten to know the medical staff when he arrived; he had learned where they had been from and how long they had been here. Susannah was from a small town called Louth in Lincolnshire, England. She had worked in a small café there while she was studying to become a teacher. When the war hit she had joined up along with her brother Stanely, who became a pilot in the RAF. They kept in touch constently with weekly letters.
“Dear Susannah, I know it’s hard to face the horrors of this war, you have been helping to save lives for the better part of two years. But you mustn’t waver in this service.” James took Susannah’s hands in his as he spoke. “Your hands have a power to heal, a gift from God that you must use to benefit the wounded and ill.”
“But I just feel so empty inside”
“I understand, but fear not Susannah.” James placed his hands on her shoulders and bowed his head. “ We shall pray, and with our prayers the Lords strength will flow between us.”
As Susannah lowered her head James began to pray.
“O merciful God, whose blessed Daughter went about doing good; Uphold with thy strength and grace those who do service to the wounded and the sick; grant to the ministers of thy gospel faithfulness and love, to the physicians and surgeons wisdom and skill, to the nurses sympathy and patience; and we beseech thee to protect and bless them in all dangers, anxieties, and labours; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
They repeated the prayer three times and when James looked up at Susannah he could see a smile forming at her lips.
“How do you feel my dear Susannah?”
“I feel… much better, Reverend. Thank you.”
James smiled and wiped away her tears, as she stood and walked towards the door James said another prayer.
“Sanctify, O Lord, both our coming in and our going forth; and grant that when we leave thy house we may not leave thy Presence, but be thou ever near unto us and keep us near unto thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Susannah turned at the door and smiled. “Amen.” She whispered before leaving. James climbed back up onto the stage and picked up the bible again, returning to his original sitting position near the candles he began to read once more, glad that he had helped yet another person though their day. His joy was short lived however as not even fifteen minutes Susannah reappeared in the door.
“Reverend, your services are required for a departed soul.” The tears that James had wiped away had returned. James let out a sigh and placed the bible back on the alter; walking to the door and collecting his jacket, he smiled at Susannah.
“Its my fault for not…” James cut her off with a raised hand and a shake of his head.
“No Susannah, it is not your fault, it was just his time.” He walked out into the cold sunlight, making his way towards the back of the old school that now served as a ward. At the back there was a nurse and two orderlies positioning the body of a solider onto a stretcher.
“His name?”
“Private Kyle Ramsey”
James placed his hand over Kyle’s eyes.
“Almighty God, we remember this day before thee thy faithful servant Kyle Ramsey, and we pray thee that, having opened to him the gates of larger life, thou wilt receive him more and more into thy joyful service; that he may win, with thee and thy servants everywhere, the eternal victory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
“Amen” Those around him said in unison.
After a moments silence James left the nurses and orderlies and made his way back to his church. He had another cross to plant.
Time: 1332
Weather: Cold yet sunny with a few clouds, no wind.
The sun shone though the windows of the small church. It was a shabby building, having been built quickly from rough-cut planks of wood that had been unevenly been nailed together. The windows where odd shaped from being cut into the walls after the building had been built and the door hung slightly open, unable to be fully closed, but it was a house of God none the less. A small wooden stage with an alter in the back right corner sat at the back of the church under a large cross that had been cut into the wall. The church was angled so that during sunrise, the light from the morning sun would burst though the cross, lighting the room with a heavenly light. During that time the rickety church seemed to truly be filled with the presence of the All Mighty.
Candles lined the small stage, burning silently and giving a small measure of heat to the room. The only person able to enjoy the little heat there was however was James Goodwill, who stool alone in the church, sitting cross-legged on the stage behind the candles with a large, opened bible sitting in his lap. He was casually flipping though the pages of the sacred tome, scanning the passages that he already knew so well in an attempt to come up with a speech for tomorrow morning’s service. So far nothing had jumped out at him. He wanted to give those who attended something to think about, other then the horrors of the war. This aid station was very close to the front lines, so it was always getting the sick and wounded in shocking numbers. It had gotten to the point that they couldn’t handle the mass amount of wounded that came though that they had to start tagging patients, caring only for those who would die before reaching the next aid station and sending the others to the next town.
James wanted to let the doctors and nurses know that what they where doing was making a difference, he wanted to inspire them and send them off to their bloody and gory tasks with hearts filled with faith. So far he thought he had been successful, for the past week he had seen smiling faces on those who left his hastily built House of God, and on a few occasions he had heard confessions from the nursing staff and doctors, forgiving them of their sins and allowing them to continue on with their life saving work free of guilt. But it wasn’t enough for James. He felt a large responsibility to these remarkable men and women to lighten the loads of their day-to-day living, once he even tried assisting a doctor with a wounded man, the surgery was successful and the soldier lived but still James felt that he had been in the way, more of a nuisance then a help.
Without being able to actually help repair the physical bodies of the wounded, James set out to help mend the spirits and souls of those who seemed to have lost their faith. He had spoken with a young man who believed that God had forsaken him by not protecting him from a grenade blast that had sent a large piece of shrapnel deep into his chest and almost piercing his heart. James had comforted the soldier, explaining that there were many people that the Lord had to watch over, and while the Lord hadn’t been able to deflect the chunk of metal, he had been able to save the young soldiers life, enabling him to return home to his beloved wife and child.
For those who could not be saved, James gave them their last rites and planted a cross with their name on it out behind the church. Thankfully there where only three crosses in the ground, due only to the hard work and skill of the medical staff who worked tirelessly to ensure that the best of care was given to those who came to them.
The thin wooden door swung open gently and James looked up to see a young nurse peek her head around the frame. James smiled warmly and rose to his feet, placing the open bible on the alter and stood in the centre of the stage, spreading his arms in a gesture of welcome. James was dressed in his Priest clothes from back home in Jackson, Tennessee. Long black suit pants and shiny shoes leading up to a tailor fit black vest over a white long sleeve shirt and black tie. Hanging over the tie was a highly polished silver cross on a thin silver chain. His black jacket was hooked on one of the nails serving as coat hooks near the door. He felt more comfortable in these clothes and only wore his military uniform on official occasions.
The nurse lowered her eyes and slowly stepped into the church, walking almost hesitantly up to the stage, she wore her uniform as standard, her light brown hair tucked up tightly under her cap, her dark green eyes however where bloodshot and her cheeks looked streaked with dry tears.
“Lieu-… uh, Reverend, I…” It had taken nearly the whole week for James to stop people calling him by his rank; he didn’t want the staff to feel like they couldn’t approach him due to his military status.
“I couldn’t turn to anyone else, you’ve always said if anyone needs to talk about anything that you are always available.” James smiled and stepped down from the stage, he wasn’t that much taller then the nurse.
“Please Susannah, tell me what is troubling you.” James gestured to one of the wooded seats that filled both side of the small church and she sat down.
“I… I just…” She burst into tears, covering her face. James put an arm around her shoulder and drew her into a hug, she sobbed into his chest.
“Its ok Susannah. When you’re ready tell me what’s put you in this state.”
“I just can’t take it anymore, no matter how many men we put back together there are always more waiting at the doors. I couldn’t walk into the surgery today, I managed to get up and dressed but… but I just sat back down afterwards and I curled up under the blanket and cried.” She chocked on almost every forth word as she tried to control her tears.
James had quickly gotten to know the medical staff when he arrived; he had learned where they had been from and how long they had been here. Susannah was from a small town called Louth in Lincolnshire, England. She had worked in a small café there while she was studying to become a teacher. When the war hit she had joined up along with her brother Stanely, who became a pilot in the RAF. They kept in touch constently with weekly letters.
“Dear Susannah, I know it’s hard to face the horrors of this war, you have been helping to save lives for the better part of two years. But you mustn’t waver in this service.” James took Susannah’s hands in his as he spoke. “Your hands have a power to heal, a gift from God that you must use to benefit the wounded and ill.”
“But I just feel so empty inside”
“I understand, but fear not Susannah.” James placed his hands on her shoulders and bowed his head. “ We shall pray, and with our prayers the Lords strength will flow between us.”
As Susannah lowered her head James began to pray.
“O merciful God, whose blessed Daughter went about doing good; Uphold with thy strength and grace those who do service to the wounded and the sick; grant to the ministers of thy gospel faithfulness and love, to the physicians and surgeons wisdom and skill, to the nurses sympathy and patience; and we beseech thee to protect and bless them in all dangers, anxieties, and labours; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
They repeated the prayer three times and when James looked up at Susannah he could see a smile forming at her lips.
“How do you feel my dear Susannah?”
“I feel… much better, Reverend. Thank you.”
James smiled and wiped away her tears, as she stood and walked towards the door James said another prayer.
“Sanctify, O Lord, both our coming in and our going forth; and grant that when we leave thy house we may not leave thy Presence, but be thou ever near unto us and keep us near unto thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Susannah turned at the door and smiled. “Amen.” She whispered before leaving. James climbed back up onto the stage and picked up the bible again, returning to his original sitting position near the candles he began to read once more, glad that he had helped yet another person though their day. His joy was short lived however as not even fifteen minutes Susannah reappeared in the door.
“Reverend, your services are required for a departed soul.” The tears that James had wiped away had returned. James let out a sigh and placed the bible back on the alter; walking to the door and collecting his jacket, he smiled at Susannah.
“Its my fault for not…” James cut her off with a raised hand and a shake of his head.
“No Susannah, it is not your fault, it was just his time.” He walked out into the cold sunlight, making his way towards the back of the old school that now served as a ward. At the back there was a nurse and two orderlies positioning the body of a solider onto a stretcher.
“His name?”
“Private Kyle Ramsey”
James placed his hand over Kyle’s eyes.
“Almighty God, we remember this day before thee thy faithful servant Kyle Ramsey, and we pray thee that, having opened to him the gates of larger life, thou wilt receive him more and more into thy joyful service; that he may win, with thee and thy servants everywhere, the eternal victory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
“Amen” Those around him said in unison.
After a moments silence James left the nurses and orderlies and made his way back to his church. He had another cross to plant.
