Eli looked around confused. Everything had gotten a lot brighter all of a sudden. He noticed that the seven of them were all alone in the brighter sanctuary. Then he saw all of his friends turn towards him and Brandon rushed over. They all looked down right where he was. He followed their eyes and his own went wide. There he was, on the ground. He touched his chest and stomach, trying to reassure himself that he was solid. He was. But he was definitely looking down at his own body. Kat said something but she sounded far away or muffled or…something. “Hey guys, what’s going on? What did you just say Kat?” No one responded. “Hellooooo. Can’t you guys hear me? I said what’s going on? You all look concerned.” Still no answer. He started to back away slowly. What is happening? Where am I? Am I dead? OH GOD, AM I DEAD? What did I do? Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.

“You’re not dead. So please calm down,” he heard someone say. He looked around and saw a man standing in the center aisle of the sanctuary, a few pews up from where he and his friends were. The man was tall. Like really tall. Eli guessed that he had to be at least 8 feet. He wore a pure white suit with a gold shirt and tie underneath. On top of that he wore an even whiter, brighter robe opened, with a hood up over his head that obscured his face so that only his mouth could be seen. His voice was calm but assertive, relaxed but with a weight and authority that seemed to ooze from his very being.

Eli jumped a little and looked over to him. “And who are you?” he asked with a tinge of fear in his voice. “Oh come now Eli, you know exactly who I am. I mean, you did just call me here.” Eli thought it over. He hadn’t called anyone. And where exactly was “here?” He thought about his last words and realization washed over his face. “Noooo,” he said drawn out. “Yes,” the tall man stated. Eli walked closer to the man until he was in the center aisle with him. Even this close, he still couldn’t see the man’s face. “God? Is that you?” “Yeah, it’s Me. Quite frankly, I thought you’d be a little more excited to Me. Why does nobody ever believe it when I actually make Myself seen? You’d think people who constantly call on Me and claim to know Me would be able to notice Me right off the bat.”

Is God ranting to Himself? What in the world is going on?

Eli fell to his knees and prostrated himself before the man in white. “Oh God. I am unworthy to be in Your presence. Forgive me for not recognizing You sooner.” “Alright, alright. That’s not really necessary here. I appreciate the reverence, but if you and I are going to get closer I need you to calm down with the worship when we’re just talking.” Eli looked confused. “I don’t know what you mean. I mean, you’re God! I shouldn’t even be looking at you.” “I mean, you’re not. You’re head’s still down. Come on man, get up.” Eli stood up but still refused to look at the being in front of him. God shook His head. 

“Well anyway, let me explain some things. First off, you’re in the Spirit Realm. Surprise! I know you’ve never seen this or even felt it that much but here it is. Well, the version of it that your soul sees anyway.” Eli looked around in disbelief. It looked the same as before, just brighter, a lot brighter. And everything was kind of soft, like someone had placed a filter over it.

So this is the Spirit Realm. It’s not quite what I have envisioned but it’s cool I guess.

Then Eli looked at his friends. All of them looked pretty much the same. Except for Dan and Matt. Matt was jacked. His body was built like he worked out everyday and he was considerably taller. But Dan was the most alarming. “No. No way. This can’t be right. There is no way that is Dan. I can’t believe it. I REFUSE to believe it.” “Well believe it. Anybody who has realized and accepted their soul’s true nature takes that soul’s true form in the Spirit Realm. And Dan,” the being smiled, “is definitely an angel.” Sure enough, Dan was taller than usual. But even more, he had wings. And not just the standard two. There were SIX wings on his back. He was clad in gold and white, but in long, tactical cargo pants, a v-neck shirt, and a hooded robe with the hood down. Small streaks of electricity sparked indiscriminately around him.

“An angel?!”