“The dragon has left the nest of darkness and is now in the air.”

“I know.  I have seen this. But he is crafty in his ways and hides in plain sight.”

“I need you to come back and serve again, and help us, in our time of need. We don’t have anyone else.”

“My body is tired and I’m still in the hospital. How can I do this?”  Said Ollie.  “I am an old man, over 100 years old, and I walk with a cane, but I’m surprised you think I walked away.  I never have.”

“Ha!  Since when did you let small problems like age deter you? Are you afraid of doctors and the lovely nurse Ratched keeping you captive with IVs and bed baths? Have you lost the steel strength of your soul?  And why do you talk of age so much?  I think you have forgotten the passage you recited at the Church by the beach, and I suggest you read it again, Mr. O:  Ephesians 6: 10:18:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and his mighty power.   Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore, PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.   Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this, in mind, be alert and always keep praying for the saints.

Ollie recited it by heart, then said to himself, “I will continue to serve until the very end. But to do that, I need to quench my thirst for a long, cold Guinness, but this hospital is not the beach bar, and sure doesn’t have Guinness.”  So, Ollie pulled out his IV, placed a band-aid from the bedside table on the bleeding vein, took off his oxygen nasal cannula, grabbed his cane, and left Walter Reed Hospital.

© SRCarson Publications 2024