A Moment When I Saw Through The Veil

(In August of my fourth year)

On a summer evening

after Emil and Madeline dropped in

and Mom served them supper,

while grown-ups talked,

I had permission to be outside alone.

I ride my maroon tricycle

from the back door of the old farm house

over rough squares of concrete

past Daddy's shop

past the old kitchen

to the barn and back.

Between the barn and the old kitchen,

I sense, but do not see

three of them. I know

and feel and hear

one in front of me,

one on each side of me.

Four of us encapsulated in a moment of time

and music, familiar music

but not of this world.

I hear Angel voices.

The message, it seemed

was in the experience.

A reminder, it seemed

of a different reality.

Embraced, it seemed

in love and acceptance--

invisible yet so familiar.

Only a moment of recognition.

The message:

Do not tell, Janet--

they won't believe you.

Do not forget, Janet--

You are never alone.

(In 1974, in the basement of St John's On The Campus, Catholic Student Center, Idaho State University Pocatello, Idaho, I was with a group of 25-30 people for a gathering of the Charismatic Prayer Group.

The silence of prayer shifted softly into the sounds of a few people singing in tongues. Gradually others joined in until the entire group was singing in tongues. The room filled with music, amplified as if Angels had joined in the singing; radiating Diving peace, love and healing energy. Suddenly I remembered. I had heard this heavenly music before, in that space between the barn and the old kitchen, in that moment when I first saw through the veil.)

Janet Waage Lingren