CityView Magazine

20 April 2021 rowing a rope over the cross like caution to the wind, David lassoed his target in a single remarkable attempt. His own words rang back, No one is that good! Reaching out, this cowboy pulled the cross to the brackets, and every hole (every one of them!) aligned perfectly on the first try. Suddenly, the dark clouds opened and, like the first ray of light in Creation, as the flash that shown forth from the Empty Tomb, a sha of light exploded down from the sky and focused directly on the cross. Let there be light! I stood speechless, thunderstruck. In disbelief and panic, my glance jumping between camera and reality, I rubbed my eyes, cleaned the lens of the camera and scanned the crowd, wondering if anyone else saw what I did. In clear view, a laborer, the soldier keeping watch over the job, fell to the ground dropping first to his knees then lying prostrate in an amalgamation of fear and reverence. He was like a dead man, except he gushed forth praise and prayer in Spanish. His comrade knelt, too. A fellow staff member standing behind me yelled in paced words of unbelief, "Did - you - see - that?" Dark clouds closed again. I walked to the adjacent parking lot searching for a cell signal to call Sharon and Ron Matthews, the donors whose faithful discipleship and Christ-centered stewardship made the chapel possible. I stumbled over my words as I tried to recount the theophany to them and then disconnected the call with the explanation that a photo was worth the proverbial 1,000 words. Ron called back and detailed to me how he and Sharon had been wrestling in prayer, feeling persecution from a myriad of forces in life, and how they had prayed for confirmation of hope, of love, of direction and for peace. Let there be light. Fellow laborers swarmed around David Brown, now on ground level, seeking a firsthand account from one closer to the sky than they. David had not seen the light, but only felt the sudden and intense warmth of its presence – a presence sensed through the ray of light but also through the smooth and flawless execution of a job that was nearly impossible. No one is that good. David wept at the realization that God and his brothers had made possible the impossible. Death and darkness gave way to life and light. And it was good. Subscribe to CityView to join The CityView Heard and enjoy the benefits: d Free tickets to events d Exclusive parties d Offers d Extras d Discounts Point your smart phone at this QR code and follow your phone prompts. Or subscribe by calling 910-423-6500 or online at www.cityviewnc.com/subscription 12 ISSUES FOR $12!

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