Sara's Soul (20 page)

JOINING OF HEARTS

Their wedding day was just as beautiful as any scene Chip had ever witnessed during his visits to Heaven with Connor. The sun was shining brightly, and the sky was a vivid shade of blue, laced with fluffy white clouds. The leaves on the trees were just beginning to turn colors, their golden edges rippling in the breeze. It was picture-perfect, the kind of fall day that no one could ever get enough of. Sara stood on the beach, wearing a beautiful white linen dress and a ring of fresh gardenias in her hair. The sunlight cast a brilliant glow on her reddish-orange curls. It was as if they were on fire. She was absolutely radiant.

Standing next to her in spirit was her mother, Star, in a periwinkle-blue dress encased in a misty haze of white. On the opposite side stood Connor and Celeste, smiling proudly as the parents of the groom. Chip wondered if Sara could see or sense them now. She finally knew the afterlife and spirit world were real, but as far as he knew, she had yet to actually see spirits with her own eyes during her waking hours. So far, she only had visions and dream visitations with the deceased. And, of course, she had had that life-changing conversation with her mother in Heaven during her near-death experience. He hoped that Sara would one day witness the miracles he had delighted in since childhood. He wanted nothing more than for her to be blissfully happy and aware of the unseen beauty that was all around her.

Chip approached his bride and took his place beside her. “You look gorgeous,” he said, caressing her cheek and chin.

“Thank you,” Sara replied. “You’re pretty handsome yourself.” Then she leaned over and whispered. “My mother is here.”

“Oh,” Chip said with a smirk. Maybe he had gotten his wish after all. “How do you know?”

“I heard her voice say she was proud of me. And then I smelled lilacs, her favorite flower.”

“Well, you’re right. She’s standing next to you, smiling. I can see her.”

Sara closed her eyes as a gentle breeze drifted across both of them. Chip knew what she was doing. She was practicing the meditation he had taught her last year at the campsite. She was trying to connect more deeply with her mom. Her eyelids fluttered, and Sara opened her eyes and turned to her right. The biggest smile crept across her face, and a tear softly rolled down her cheek.

“Hi, Mom,” she said quietly.

“Sara, you see her, too!” Chip said excitedly.

“I do. And you know what else? Your parents are here, too.”

“Yes, they are. I’m so happy you can see them. This is the best wedding gift I could ask for.”

“There’s more,” Connor said, suddenly speaking. “We have something for you.”

“Oh my gosh, I just heard him speak!” Sara shrieked. “This is incredible.”

“And to think you used to believe spirit communication wasn’t real,” Chip laughed.

Connor pinned a shiny yellow ribbon onto Chip’s black suit lapel. Celeste carefully placed another on Sara’s dress.

“We will help guide and support you on your life’s mission,” Celeste said. “You are not only joining your lives and hearts together today, you are uniting all those who are hurting and feel they have no way out. They will have a source of strength and hope for the future. Together, you two will save so many lives. We are all so proud of you.”

“Thank you. I’m honored to finally meet you both,” Sara said, instinctively reaching out to try to shake their hands. Even though Celeste and Connor no longer had physical bodies, Sara was astonished that somehow she could feel their energy pulsating through her hand. She politely smiled and bowed her head before them.

But Connor and Celeste would have no part of the formal gestures. They both heartily embraced Sara as if she were their own child. She could again feel an astonishing wave of energy. But this time it surrounded her, wrapping her body in a cocoon of soothing peace and unconditional love. Chip smiled as he watched the surprised but happy look on his bride-to-be’s face.

“I’ve heard so much about you both,” Sara said enthusiastically. “Your story just touched my heart. Your love and devotion to each other are truly inspirational.”

“Thank you,” said Celeste. “Your story with Chip is also a beautiful one. His love saved you.”

“Speaking of love, where’s Dad?” Chip asked.

“Oh, Dave’s coming, Chip. He’ll make his entrance soon. Don’t you worry,” Celeste said with a wink.

The sun began to fade, and feathery white clouds wandered across the sky. A gentle, misty drizzle fell for a few seconds, and a seagull flew overhead and squawked, drawing their attention to the heavenly skies above. As Chip and Sara looked up, they saw a beautiful rainbow. Its colors were so glorious and vibrant. Chip had never seen a rainbow so prominent and bright on Earth. But he had seen one like this before in Heaven, during his otherworldly visits with Connor as a small child.

“My wedding gift to you and Sara, son,” a familiar voice called out from the direction of the rainbow. It was Dave.

“Oh, Dad,” Chip said, feeling a lump forming in his throat. His father’s presence and the magnificent rainbow meant a lot to him.

“I give you the gift of
connectedness
,” Dave explained. “May you both always remember that we are all connected, that our individuality blends together to create something much bigger and more beautiful than ourselves. We are parts of the whole.”

Chip felt love surrounding and embracing him. “Thanks, Dad,” he said. He could no longer hold back the emotions that filled him, and a small tear trickled down his cheek.

A sparkling mist emanated from the rainbow and stretched down to the beach. A flash of light appeared, and Dave materialized. Much to Chip’s surprise, he was holding a woman’s hand. She was a pretty young girl, about age thirty, with warm brown eyes and straight shoulder-length brown hair trimmed with bangs.

“Dad? Um… Who is this?”

“This is Kara,” Dave said proudly. “She was my childhood love. She moved away when we were sixteen. When I died, she was the first one there to greet me and escort me to Heaven. We’ve been together ever since.”

“So, Mom wasn’t your only love?”

“Nope. I will always love your mom. But she was already taken when I met her. I should have respected that, but I wanted her so badly that I pursued her anyway. Her heart belonged to someone else. The truth is: so did mine. I didn’t realize it at the time because I didn’t think I would ever get Kara back. I thought she was lost to me forever. So, I moved on. But love always has a way of catching up to you.”

Dave leaned over and kissed Kara. Chip was taken aback by the passion, intensity, and length of the kiss. The two seemed oblivious to the fact that everyone was watching them.

“Okay, guys,” Sara said impatiently, feeling a bit uncomfortable. “It’s great that we’re all in love here. But we should save our displays of affection for private time. Besides, it’s our wedding day, remember? It’s time to get things started.”

“Isn’t she a spirited one?” Connor said, chuckling.

“That’s pretty funny coming from a spirit,” Sara said with a giggle.

“I know someone else who’s pretty feisty,” Celeste said, giving Connor a nudge. They all laughed, and the wedding ceremony continued with each spirit presenting a special gift to the couple.

“I’m next,” a woman’s voice called. Star stepped forward, her curly crimson hair blowing gently in the wind.

“You don’t have to give us anything, Mom,” Sara said. “You’ve already given me so much.”

“Now, dear,” Star said in her motherly tone. “A mother never stops guiding and taking care of her child—even from the afterlife. Besides, you’ll absolutely love this gift.”

Star opened her hand and presented a crystal-clear prism made of quartz to Sara and Chip. “I give you the gift of
clarity
,” she said. “May you have clarity of mind and spirit. May you be aware of all that is around you and possess the ability to look beyond the physical realm. I was blessed with the gifts of psychic knowing, empathy, and mediumship in life. Sara, you share some of these gifts as well. Let your intuition guide you and allow your visions to not only teach you but also bring insight to others.”

Sara embraced her mother’s energy and essence, feeling more cherished than she had ever been before. The gift was perfect and much appreciated.

Kara then walked over to Chip and placed her hand on his shoulder. “I have something for you, too,” she said sweetly.

“But you don’t even know me,” Chip protested. “You don’t have to do that.”

“It’s my pleasure,” Kara said. “Any family of Dave’s is family of mine. And besides, the entire human race is all one family anyway, remember? We’re all connected.”

A white dove appeared in her hand. It spread its wings, and Kara released it into the air directly in front of Chip and Sara.

“I bring the gift of
freedom
,” she continued. “I wish you both the freedom to travel through life unburdened by unnecessary doubts and fears. Many times, our fear of failure, death, loss, and separation prevents us from living up to our full potential. We’re afraid to take risks, try new things, and put ourselves in vulnerable situations. But Chip and Sara, neither of you ever needs to be afraid again. There is no failure, only an opportunity to learn and grow. And as you both now know, there is no death either, only a changing of worlds. You are free to live your life in any way you choose. Make the most of it.”

“Thank you, Kara,” Chip said gratefully. “I intend to embrace life and spend my time on Earth achieving great things with the woman I love.”

“And I plan to do the same,” Sara chimed in, putting her arm around Chip. “I only recently learned of this freedom. I thought I was trapped, and my only escape was death. Now I know the truth, and it’s so liberating. I have never felt such a sense of relief and peace in all my life.”

“That brings us to the next gift,” Connor said, approaching the couple. “Chip, you know I’ve been teaching and guiding you since you were a small boy, so it’s fitting that I present you both with this very special and important gift.”

“But you already gave me the yellow ribbon pin,” Chip said.

“It’s your wedding day, dude,” said Connor. “Weddings are a day of abundance. Get used to it.”

Connor handed Chip a tiny elephant carved out of jade. “I give you the gift of
wisdom.
When faced with a life challenge or difficult situation, remember the bigger picture. Let this wisdom bring harmony to your life, to your marriage, and to the world. Embrace your higher purpose and share what you have learned with others, as I have done with you.”

“Connor, I admire your talent as a teacher and mentor,” Chip said. “You’ve always been like a father to me, even though I never knew you really were until recently. I appreciate all that you’ve done for me. I will always remember the knowledge you’ve shared and the many lessons you’ve taught me. I look forward to sharing this wisdom with my new wife.”

Chip looked admiringly at Sara, and she flashed him a charming smile. They faced each other and held hands, anticipating the exchange of vows that was only moments away. Chip couldn’t remember a time when he felt happier. This moment, this place, this time… was perfect.

The sun began to sink into the horizon just beyond the lake. Its remaining light cast shadows on the beach and danced elegantly across the waves. As Celeste stepped forward to present the final gift to Chip and Sara, glorious shades of orange and pink decorated the evening sky like the icing on a fancy cake. A flock of seagulls glided among the clouds, moving together as a unit. The air was filled with the fragrant scent of fresh roses. The captivating surroundings awakened their senses and invigorated their souls. But the strongest and most powerful delight wasn’t something that could be seen, heard, or smelled. It was something that could only be felt with the heart. Nothing in the universe could ever compare to its strength, its magnitude, its vitality, and its undying ability to transform absolutely everything. It was the essence of existence, the very heart of creation. It was what had saved Sara’s soul.

“I give you the gift of
love
,” said Celeste, bending over and etching a giant heart in the sand with her fingertip.

Sara and Chip gazed at each other, their eyes lighting up. Although there was no band or musician in sight, in the distance they could hear the faint sound of trumpets echoing through the air, signaling a jubilant celebration. It was certainly a time to rejoice. Two worlds that were usually considered separate had intersected that day. The veil had miraculously lifted, bringing Heaven and Earth together as one to celebrate their love. And why not? Love is what life—and death—are all about.

“Those we love don’t go away,

They walk beside us every day,

Unseen, unheard,