Beyond Justice (51 page)

Golden light spilled across a wide meadow more lush, more verdant than anything this side of existence. 
Where is this place?

I'd never before beheld such breathtaking landscapes, took in such sweet air, my bare feet never alighted upon so silken a floor.  No terrestrial bird ever sang so gloriously.  And yet, it all felt as familiar as a song from my youth.

In the distance, I saw them. 
Dear Lord, it's them!

Jenn and Bethie waded across a placid river and onto the shore.  Their faces shone.  Their eyes, those beautiful green eyes, brightened.  They need not speak, I heard their souls.

Daddy, Bethie said.  I can't wait till we're together again.  Her hand extended out over the water's edge.  I reached out, and though we could not touch, I sensed her warmth.

I love you so much, Babygirl.

Jenn's warm presence enveloped me.  Sam, she said, Don't grieve.  You are loved with an eternal love.  Time will pass like the blink of an eye, when you finally come home.

I'll always love you, Jenn.

Go on, then.  Live, love, and serve.  When you cross the river, in just a little while, meet us at the gate.

I will, Love.  I will.

Suddenly, there came a tug on my hand.  Aaron!  He was looking up and smiling at me, completely whole.  His face shone with heavenly brilliance.  I bent down and wrapped my arms around him.

My boy!  My sweet boy!

Daddy.

Oh, that angelic voice.  How I'd longed to hear him say,
Daddy
.  I held on to him, wanting never to let go.

He let me stay, Daddy.  For as long as you needed me to.

I know, Aaron.  I know.  At last, I understood.  My sorrow was replaced with pure joy.

You're going to be fine, Daddy.

His tiny form became pure light and glided across the river, over to his mother and sister and once again, he appeared as a little boy.  Jenn picked him up, kissed him.  The three of them began to glow with unearthly splendor.

One last time, Jenn said, "At the gate, Love.  We'll be waiting."

And they were gone.

Or perhaps it is I that have left.

Lying there, he looks as if he's fallen asleep.  Peace beyond all understanding fills my soul.  All along, I wanted to be there for my son, when instead, God let Aaron stay for me, instilling within me a reason to fight, a reason to live.

For the rest of my years, be they thirty, forty, or even fifty more, I will be free.  And then, I will see Aaron again, and Jenn and Bethie.  And a lifetime will be as the distant memory of a dream, when we are reunited.

For all eternity.

Acknowledgements

This book would not be possible without the help of countless people whose support, insight and encouragement brought the characters and story to life:  

Drs. Stephen and Vivien Tseng, David DeLee, Chris Hagan, Michael Hiebert, Adrian Phoenix, Pastor Luke Chen, Dr. Glen Scorgie, Lori Moss, Anthony Davis,
 
William and Ckristina Sutjiadi,
 
Chris and Carol Essex,
 
Christy
 
and Tom
 
Giangreco,
 
Pastors Jerry and Tami McKinney, Steve Fitzpatrick, Susan Wingate, Michael Bellomo, and all the wonderful people in The City Church San Diego,
 
and many others who helped me and cheered me on.

A
 
special thanks to Dean W. Smith
 
who believed in my
 
writing
 
enough to buy my first professional fiction works and invite me into the august gathering of minds
 
with Kristine Kathryn Rusch and
 
theentire
 
Oregon Writers Network.  I would not be a writer if it were not for
 
you all.

I would also like to honor my father Rev. Paul F. Tseng, who taught by example to dream beyond what you can see, and to live by faith.  Also, my late mother Anna, whose life was a testimony of grace and unconditional love. 

Thanks also to my
 
awesome
 
children for putting up with a busy dad, and for showing me just how much I can love another person.  You will never know how much that helped me write this book from the bottom of my heart.

Finally, I wish to thank my
 
beautiful
 
wife Katie,
 
for being my friend, my lover, and my constant source of emotional support as well as
 
the
 
inspiration for all my work.  You've put up with endless hours of my talking about writing books, so I dedicate this and all my coming books to you, my love.

A Note From the Author

Thank you for taking the time to read BEYOND JUSTICE, a very personal work for me.  If you were in any way touched by the story, challenged by the themes, or even changed by the message, I would love to hear from you.  Please connect with me via the links at the end of this note.

The themes of grace and forgiveness are very important in this book, and while you or I will likely never have to face what Sam Hudson did, we can still benefit from being released from a prison of resentment or bitterness.

Someone once said, unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping the other guy dies.  I believe that when we don’t forgive, we are shackled and put in an emotional, even spiritual prison of solitary confinement.  So I want to challenge you today, if there is anyone whom you have not forgiven yet (it could even be yourself), purpose in your heart to do so. 

If you need help with it, please talk to someone who can help, like a pastor, a counselor, even a trusted friend.  The old adage says, “
To err is human, to forgive is divine.”

Sometimes we need help from that higher power to heal us, to release us from years of holding onto pain.

I also want to encourage you to share this book with anyone who might be interested in a story like this one, or who might benefit from the message.  If BEYOND JUSTICE has been a meaningful reading experience, won’t you please share that with your friends or family?

Since the initial release of BEYOND JUSTICE, readers have been contacting me with testimonies of what the book has meant to them, or how it has helped their friends or relatives.  As you’ve taken all this time to read my story, I’d love to hear yours!

Please connect with me on facebook or my blog and leave a wall post.

You can reach me at:

http://joshua-graham.com

http://facebook.com/J0shuaGraham

http://twitter.com/J0shuaGraham

Thank you!

Joshua Graham

Table of Contents

PART I

PART II

PART III