Compass Call: Survival & Awakening (The Gatekeeper Book 3) (24 page)

I desired to see the house more closely, and found myself standing on the walkway leading up to the front steps. A decorative white picket fence encircled a comfortable lawn lined with flowerbeds and shrubs. From one tree hung a rope swing, from another, several bird feeders. I saw signs of a dog, but the dog itself was not to be seen. As I approached the patio I noticed toys on the deck and laying about in various padded wooden patio chairs. There were other signs that young children lived in the house, but I heard no sounds other than those from the native life that lived abundantly outside and around the house in the trees, and in the air around me
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I walked to the front door and saw that it was open save for a closed screen door. I walked around the patio to the back and saw a large barn. It too was grand and surrounded by many trees. To my left I saw several horses grazing in a green pasture under the warm noonday sun. I also saw many goats, and I began to count them when my ears were drawn to an unobtrusive squeaking noise. A tall windmill turned lazily in the wind as it pumped water into the pasture’s stock tank. I also saw chickens running freely about, and I began to wonder where the caretaker for this lovely farm was?


In every direction I looked I beheld the results of the hard work from many hands, hands that labored to create a homestead of love and peace. I had no doubt that this place was a refuge, and I was beginning to wonder if it was real, if such a place really existed, or was it a figment of my imagination? Did it actually exist, or was it a place I created in my mind, for I truly desired to live in such a place and time
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I made my way back to the front of the patio and sat in a hanging porch swing. I rocked myself comfortably in the bench as a gentle breeze caressed my face with warmth and joy. The smell of wild grass and flowers, of life and nature, filled my nose, and lighted my mind with pure contentment. I was home, and I never wanted to leave
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At that very moment of contentment, I heard the sound of a vehicle coming down the road. I looked up and saw a pickup truck approaching the farmhouse. It was an old truck, faded blue to gray from the sun, and dented from years of hard work. In the back were several kids and a barking dog, all eager to be free of the truck’s mobile confinement. A honk of the horn signaled their arrival, and many hands waved excitedly to greet me
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I stood to meet the family on their walkway and was immediately surrounded by four excited kids and a big, happy, black dog. The oldest child, a beautiful young woman of sixteen, was holding a small child in her arms. Her dark brown hair fell over her shoulders and was being used by a little girl as partial concealment. The youngster looked to be about four, and her blonde hair, and steel-blue eyes, peeked out at me from behind a velvety curtain of brown hair. They were both incredibly beautiful, and filled with an indescribable aura of light and joy
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The other two children were both boys. The older one was tall, lean and strikingly handsome. Ten years old by my guess, with light brown hair. The other boy was small, younger, also four, and also blonde, but with hazel eyes. He held on to the older boy’s hand with intensity, but stared at me boldly. It was then that I
realized, despite their difference in eye color, the two younger children were nearly identical fraternal twins. I delighted in having made the observation, and admired their beauty. Like the girls, the boys radiated unmistakable energy and strength. I was in awe
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I greeted each of them in turn, and bent to pat the dog’s head. The children parted way for their mother, and I saw that she too was blonde. I was immediately struck by her intrinsic beauty. Tall and lithe, the woman radiated a warmth and love that is difficult to describe. She appeared to be in her mid-forty’s, but something about her spoke of agelessness, of a timeless love and mercy, of having conquered a great deal of pain with honor. When she embraced me, I felt her energy flow into and lift me up. I wasn’t even aware of my fatigue until she healed me of it. Hers was a healing embrace, and it was indescribable
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She pulled away, and with a warm smile she welcomed me to stay for dinner. She said she was glad to see me again, and called the children to follow her into the house and help prepare the dinner. The kids obediently followed, but the dog remained by my side, panting lightly at my pleasant company
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I scratched behind the dog’s ears and rubbed his head and back as I waited for the man to approach. He too was tall, with light-brown hair and flecks of gray at his temples. Again, for some unexplained reason, I knew he could dispense with the gray if he desired. I don’t know how I knew, I just knew he could control his appearance. Also, like the woman, he looked to be in his mid to late forties, but once again, an underlying age said much more about him, about who he was, what he did, and what he could do. As I tried to decipher his
aura, he apologized to me for his tardiness and explained that he had to make a quick trip into town, but said he was delighted that I arrived safely and waited patiently for his return. He asked for my forgiveness and offered a firm but gentle handshake
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When I shook his hand, I immediately felt the power of his energy. Like the woman, the man contained something that I find difficult to describe. His grip spoke to me of knowledge and authority, of having fulfilled a great purpose, one of righteous law, of justice. It was as if his entire purpose was to balance the scales of life, or maybe it was love. And then I realized it wasn’t just the man’s duty, but both of their duties, the man AND the woman. They were here to bring balance to the world, maybe even to Heaven and the entire universe. They were aligned, as one, in their uniquely divine purpose, and I felt their humble majesty
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I also saw their compatibility, that it was beyond earthly definition; having been set before the foundation of the earth. They were called to work together, as a couple, and bring balance when no others could. My mind began to fill with countless thoughts and images, even to the point where I was about to collapse to my knees, but the man sensed my limits and released my hand. He put his hands on my shoulders, as if to steady me, and again welcomed me to his home. When he released me, he bid me follow him into the house for dinner
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I enjoyed the company of that fine family while we ate a simple but deliciously prepared meal. Many pleasantries followed. The children played with the dog as the table was cleared and the dishes washed. I sat with the man at the table and could barely contain myself.
I had so many questions to ask, but I felt compelled to wait for his invitation. Finally, after he asked me many questions about myself and my family, he invited me to ask anything of him
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My first question was if his house, his farm, was on earth or in heaven. He smiled and said that it was on earth. I asked him if it was where I was supposed to come, and he told me that it was one of many places, but that I should come to his place first. I asked how I could find it, and with that he stood and motioned for me to follow him into another room
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He lead me into his office, a large room furnished with many kinds of antiques, all simple, but very functional in their design. Against one wall there sat a large, oak, roll-top desk. The man took a seat in a leather padded chair at the desk, and invited me to sit in a fabric covered chair next to him. He then slid the desktop up and moved around its contents as he searched for something inside. Finally, he revealed a set of built-in pull-out drawers
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As he worked, I looked around the office and saw that it contained not a single electronic device. There wasn’t a computer, printer, phone, or even an electric lamp or clock in the entire room, yet the space felt as remarkable and efficient as any professional, modern, pre-disaster business office
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Finally, from inside the desk, he pulled open a drawer. Within the shoebox sized drawer was a small, darkly stained, five-inch square wooden box. He removed the small box and held it in his hands. He looked at me, silently, as if deciding whether or not to proceed. For a moment I was worried he would turn me away; that he wouldn’t find me worthy of the box. I
dare not reach for the box, so I waited for his judgment. Finally, after what seemed like hours, he raised the lid and held the box open for me to examine the contents
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Inside the small, blue, silk-lined box was a shiny brass compass of about three inches across. I asked if I could touch it, and he removed it from the box and placed it in my hands. I examined it carefully and asked if I could open it. He nodded and I lifted the hinged top. It was, as I suspected, a compass, but one that I was not entirely familiar with. It had two hinged sights, as well as a free floating needle and two level bubbles. It reminded me a little of the lensatic compasses I used in the military, except this one was solid brass and finely crafted
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The man told me that it was only a compass by appearance, and said that it called to me, and that it would guide me in truth during my journey north. He then proceeded to show me how to use the compass. He explained that, while it was in my hands, it would operate independently of the earth’s gravitational field and point me in the proper direction. His words were, “It will guide you on your true course.”


He also said that if anyone else held the compass, the needle would point to magnetic north, or not move at all. He told me to take great care in safeguarding the compass, for it would help me avoid many dangers and calamities along the way
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I thanked him for the gift and he stood. He then reached into a tall wooden box next to his desk and removed a long tube of paper. He unrolled the paper on a table in the room, and pinned the corners down with small polished stones. I was given a moment to examine
the map, and I saw that it resembled what looked like an early version of the United States, but I knew, in fact, that it was a current representation, or at least current as of the time of my viewing. The map showed all the changes that occurred across the national landscape during and after the disaster, and included all the ruined and riotous cities, the damaged infrastructure, the radioactive zones, the changed waterways, and many other features of significance. Though I wasn’t given a copy of the map, the image was permanently impressed upon my mind, and in complete and total detail. I believe I could write the map this minute, but feel constrained not to do so
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With his finger, the man then pointed to a small, isolated area southeast of Grand Junction, Colorado, not far from Grand Mesa National Park. He told me that it was where he lived, in an area where the ash fell lightly, and a civilized community of organized people lived together cooperatively and peacefully. He said I should come to him first, but that I was free to come by whatever path suited me the best. He said the compass would guide me to him whatever path I took
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He then smiled warmly and said it was time for hot apple pie, so we returned to the dining table. His wife joined us, and while we ate we talked for what must have been several more hours. Although I don’t recall every detail of our discussion, I do remember bits and pieces. Some of it was about my departure and the upcoming journey, some was about the work they were doing, about how they were bringing together special people, like me, and some was about the future, about my part in the work that was to be accomplished after the gathering
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I regret not taking notes during the discussion, but I doubt they would have followed me home. I was given a vast amount of information, like some kind of huge spiritual download. I don’t remember all of it, but honestly, I’m not worried about not remembering everything because I know I’ll have access to it when I need it
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At that point I began to get very tired. Noticing my fatigue, my two hosts invited me to rest awhile before my departure. I graciously accepted their offer. Their home was so comfortable and inviting that the thought of denying myself a quick nap was absolutely impossible
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The woman led me to a ground floor guestroom, and I didn’t hesitate, for even a moment, to sit on the edge of a very comfortable bed. As she knelt to remove my shoes, a wave of penetrating fatigue washed over me, one so deep that I literally collapsed onto the pillow. The last thing I saw, before abandoning myself to sleep, was the woman placing the small wooden compass box on the night table next to the bed
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It was then, or maybe it was a while later, that I woke in my own bed at home. I don’t know how long I was out, but it seemed like many hours, much longer than I could have truly slept. The entire experience was so real that I knew it wasn’t a dream. In fact, it had to be real because I still have the compass. I don’t know what to make of it all, but my only regret is that I didn’t think to ask my two hosts for their names. They knew my name, but I never thought to ask them for theirs. But I’m not worried, because I know I’ll see them again. I desperately want to share this story with Jenna, but for now it will have to remain a silent journal entry
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Jenna, when you read this, know that I love you with all my heart. You truly are everything to me. I know you don’t understand what’s going on with me, especially when it comes to my “dreams,” but I can assure you, they are vitally important to our survival and will ultimately save us in the end. We are part of something big
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All my love to you, eternally
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JA