ALVIE AND THE GREAT EVENT
Silas, a superintendent in of Heaven's Outer Province, stood near the edge of the
landing platform frowning as he gazed into the distance. He wasn't angry because
anger isn't allowed in heaven. But he was upset, because Alive, the smallest angel
under his care, was late returning from his assignment. As always, Alvie's task had
been a simple one; bringing a word of comfort in response to a troubled mothers
prayer. And, as always Alvie took longer than was expected. Periodically, Silas
wrestled with the uneasy feeling that Alvie was too small to qualify for duty in the
Outer Provinces. For whether you measured him wing tip to wing tip or heels to halo,
Alvie barely met the minimum flight requirements for such duties. What’s more,
the art of graceful flight which came so naturally to other angels seemed to have
eluded Alvie entirely. Others wheeled and soared through the lofty realms of heaven
with ease, touching down and lifting off again in graceful rhythm. But not Alvie. With
every new flight Alvie took to the sky it was if he were climbing a flight of stairs.
But even though his flight was not graceful, Alvie flapped his way through the air
with great joy. Silas suddenly recalled as he spied Alvie’s lonesome figure in the
distance, that Alvie had not yet mastered the art of landing. He watched Alvie’s
erratic approach with increasing concern.
Too high! Too fast, Alvie," he shouted, waving his arms fanatically. Alvie,
misinterpreting Silas' shouts and frantic waving as expressions of welcome; he
angled straight for Silas. Then folding his wings, he fell the final few feet; narrowly
missing Silas. He struck the ground with such force that Silas winced. Still, it was
a better landing than some; he bounced only once. Climbing to his feet Alvie
dusted himself off, straightened his halo and smiled innocently at his snarling
supervisor.
“Hi Silas. Sorry I’m late” he said, lifting one arm in a shy gesture that was half wave
and half salute. But to Silas the smile and the apology had only added reminders
of Alvie’s momentarily indifference toward his own advancement.”
“The trouble with you, Alvie," Silas heard himself reciting the familiar complaint once
more, “Alvie you just aren’t flying in the right circles. Every time new assignments
come down from headquarters, you choose some insignificant duty where no one
can see or appreciate you. It is not right for you to stay here in the same position
while others move up to better things. Besides, it looks bad on my record. Why, I’m
the only superintendent in this end of heaven with an angel so long overdue for
promotion. Don’t you want a home up in the Heavenly City where you can become
eligible to serve in the very presence of the Most High God.”
Silas' voice trembled slightly at the mere thought of such a rare and magnificent
prospect, and even Alvie knew it was the heart’s desire of every angel in the outer
province to have a chance, someday, to serve in the very presence the Most High
God. He clenched his head and brushed an imaginary speck of dust from his robe
with a wing tip.
“I’m sorry, Silas,” he said. “I mean to do better. Honest. But, someone has to take
the little jobs.”
Silas ignored his reply. “Remember how you could have joined the Angels climbing
Jacob’s ladder? But no, you had to help some ragged shepherd boy look for a lost
sheep! And how you missed the chance to ride with the other angels in the fiery
chariots which picked up the prophet Elijah? All because you went looking for hay
to feed the chariot team! Today, everyone on those angels has a home in the
Heavenly City. And what about all those other times you could have earned a
promotion, where were you? Off watching over some nobody in trouble, that’s
where! I tell you, Alvie, helping shepherds feeding the livestock is no way to advance
your career.”
Alvie didn’t answer. Silas wouldn’t understand because little jobs weren’t important
to him. But they were to Alvie. Why, seeing the joy on the little shepherd’s face when
we found his lost sheep was worth more than any reward. And it wasn’t Alvie’s fault
Elijah’s chariot left before he returned with the hay. Besides, the horses were even
hungrier after the trip. Everyone else had been so excited about Elijah’s arrival that
no one thought to look after the horses. Alvie could still remember their grateful
muzzles against the palm of his hands as he fed them, and remembering, how he
felt good inside. But more important news cut short Silas’ recital of Alvie’s missed
opportunities.
“Listen, Alvie,” his voice changing from exasperation to excitement. “All heaven is
preparing for a great event. It’s just been announced that the Most High God is going
to visit the earth. They say he’s going to appear as a King! Now a big operation like
this will involve many important assignments. In fact, they say some angel may be
given the rarest privilege of all, a chance to serve in the actual presence of Most High
God Himself.” Once again, Silas, his voice filled with awe. “All heaven is getting ready,
Alvie,” he continued. “Look.”
From the edge of heaven where they stood, Alvie looked. He saw the vast sweep of
plains, he saw the matchless gardens with their crystal fountains, and in the distance,
he saw the soaring walls and towers of the Heavenly City resting high on God’s Holy
Mountain. And everywhere he looked, Alvin saw bands of Angels bustling preparing
for the great event. Then Silas led Alvie to a large table covered with scrolls were all
the other angels of the province were standing by.
“These are the assignments for our province, Alvie,” he explained. “Each scroll
contains the description of a task to be performed in connection with the great event.
We’ve all been waiting for your return so you could have the first choice. There are
dozens of important jobs here, any one of which will particularly guarantee you a
promotion in the heavenly city. But choose quickly, Alvie, were late already.” With that
word, Silas left to make a final check at provincial headquarters.
But Alvie could not bring himself to take one of the important jobs.” I’ll just wait and
take whatever’s left,” he said to himself. And stepping aside he watched each of the
other angels moving in and make their choices, one by one. Alvie was glad that every
angel seemed delighted with his choice.
Silas returned just in time to see Alvie reach for the very last scroll. It was wrinkled
and a little flat from laying at the bottom of the pile. “Let me see that Alvie,” Silas
grabbed the scroll from his hands. Alvie ducked his head as Silas scan the contents.
“Well Alvie, you’ve done it again!” He exclaimed. Out of that whole pile of magnificent
opportunities, you managed to end up with the only unimportant task!” Shaking his
head in dismay, he handed the scroll back, then turned to join the other angels
preparing to leave, somewhere to be a part of Gabriel’s procession; some where to
sing in the celestial choir and somewhere to serve as special messenger to the four
corners of the earth. It seemed as if every other angel in heavens outer province had
chosen something exciting and important task which could lead to a promotion and
perhaps a chance, someday to serve in the actual presence of the Most High God.
Everyone that is, except Alvie, who had waited to take the last scroll, the job no one
else had wanted.
Just before take off, Silas paused for a last word. “Even though you’re not coming
with us, you still have a job to do, Alvie,” he said. “Better get with it!” And with a rush
of wings, Silas and his companions lifted off into the sky already filled with other
important angels bent on the other important tasks. Alvie watched until the last angel
was out of sight. Then stepping to the edge of heaven, he gazed at the earth spinning
below. He was sorry Silas was upset, but inside, he didn’t feel left out at all. In fact, in
his heart he was delighted with his new assignment. It was the kind of job he loved best;
watching over a homeless, newborn infant. He really didn’t mind missing all the
excitement. So, with the last look at the scroll for directions and with a quick nod of his
head, little Alvie spread his stubby wings and dove into the sky then slanted himself to
earth’s direction, he set out to find a stable and a place called Bethlehem.
Silas, a superintendent in of Heaven's Outer Province, stood near the edge of the
landing platform frowning as he gazed into the distance. He wasn't angry because
anger isn't allowed in heaven. But he was upset, because Alive, the smallest angel
under his care, was late returning from his assignment. As always, Alvie's task had
been a simple one; bringing a word of comfort in response to a troubled mothers
prayer. And, as always Alvie took longer than was expected. Periodically, Silas
wrestled with the uneasy feeling that Alvie was too small to qualify for duty in the
Outer Provinces. For whether you measured him wing tip to wing tip or heels to halo,
Alvie barely met the minimum flight requirements for such duties. What’s more,
the art of graceful flight which came so naturally to other angels seemed to have
eluded Alvie entirely. Others wheeled and soared through the lofty realms of heaven
with ease, touching down and lifting off again in graceful rhythm. But not Alvie. With
every new flight Alvie took to the sky it was if he were climbing a flight of stairs.
But even though his flight was not graceful, Alvie flapped his way through the air
with great joy. Silas suddenly recalled as he spied Alvie’s lonesome figure in the
distance, that Alvie had not yet mastered the art of landing. He watched Alvie’s
erratic approach with increasing concern.
Too high! Too fast, Alvie," he shouted, waving his arms fanatically. Alvie,
misinterpreting Silas' shouts and frantic waving as expressions of welcome; he
angled straight for Silas. Then folding his wings, he fell the final few feet; narrowly
missing Silas. He struck the ground with such force that Silas winced. Still, it was
a better landing than some; he bounced only once. Climbing to his feet Alvie
dusted himself off, straightened his halo and smiled innocently at his snarling
supervisor.
“Hi Silas. Sorry I’m late” he said, lifting one arm in a shy gesture that was half wave
and half salute. But to Silas the smile and the apology had only added reminders
of Alvie’s momentarily indifference toward his own advancement.”
“The trouble with you, Alvie," Silas heard himself reciting the familiar complaint once
more, “Alvie you just aren’t flying in the right circles. Every time new assignments
come down from headquarters, you choose some insignificant duty where no one
can see or appreciate you. It is not right for you to stay here in the same position
while others move up to better things. Besides, it looks bad on my record. Why, I’m
the only superintendent in this end of heaven with an angel so long overdue for
promotion. Don’t you want a home up in the Heavenly City where you can become
eligible to serve in the very presence of the Most High God.”
Silas' voice trembled slightly at the mere thought of such a rare and magnificent
prospect, and even Alvie knew it was the heart’s desire of every angel in the outer
province to have a chance, someday, to serve in the very presence the Most High
God. He clenched his head and brushed an imaginary speck of dust from his robe
with a wing tip.
“I’m sorry, Silas,” he said. “I mean to do better. Honest. But, someone has to take
the little jobs.”
Silas ignored his reply. “Remember how you could have joined the Angels climbing
Jacob’s ladder? But no, you had to help some ragged shepherd boy look for a lost
sheep! And how you missed the chance to ride with the other angels in the fiery
chariots which picked up the prophet Elijah? All because you went looking for hay
to feed the chariot team! Today, everyone on those angels has a home in the
Heavenly City. And what about all those other times you could have earned a
promotion, where were you? Off watching over some nobody in trouble, that’s
where! I tell you, Alvie, helping shepherds feeding the livestock is no way to advance
your career.”
Alvie didn’t answer. Silas wouldn’t understand because little jobs weren’t important
to him. But they were to Alvie. Why, seeing the joy on the little shepherd’s face when
we found his lost sheep was worth more than any reward. And it wasn’t Alvie’s fault
Elijah’s chariot left before he returned with the hay. Besides, the horses were even
hungrier after the trip. Everyone else had been so excited about Elijah’s arrival that
no one thought to look after the horses. Alvie could still remember their grateful
muzzles against the palm of his hands as he fed them, and remembering, how he
felt good inside. But more important news cut short Silas’ recital of Alvie’s missed
opportunities.
“Listen, Alvie,” his voice changing from exasperation to excitement. “All heaven is
preparing for a great event. It’s just been announced that the Most High God is going
to visit the earth. They say he’s going to appear as a King! Now a big operation like
this will involve many important assignments. In fact, they say some angel may be
given the rarest privilege of all, a chance to serve in the actual presence of Most High
God Himself.” Once again, Silas, his voice filled with awe. “All heaven is getting ready,
Alvie,” he continued. “Look.”
From the edge of heaven where they stood, Alvie looked. He saw the vast sweep of
plains, he saw the matchless gardens with their crystal fountains, and in the distance,
he saw the soaring walls and towers of the Heavenly City resting high on God’s Holy
Mountain. And everywhere he looked, Alvin saw bands of Angels bustling preparing
for the great event. Then Silas led Alvie to a large table covered with scrolls were all
the other angels of the province were standing by.
“These are the assignments for our province, Alvie,” he explained. “Each scroll
contains the description of a task to be performed in connection with the great event.
We’ve all been waiting for your return so you could have the first choice. There are
dozens of important jobs here, any one of which will particularly guarantee you a
promotion in the heavenly city. But choose quickly, Alvie, were late already.” With that
word, Silas left to make a final check at provincial headquarters.
But Alvie could not bring himself to take one of the important jobs.” I’ll just wait and
take whatever’s left,” he said to himself. And stepping aside he watched each of the
other angels moving in and make their choices, one by one. Alvie was glad that every
angel seemed delighted with his choice.
Silas returned just in time to see Alvie reach for the very last scroll. It was wrinkled
and a little flat from laying at the bottom of the pile. “Let me see that Alvie,” Silas
grabbed the scroll from his hands. Alvie ducked his head as Silas scan the contents.
“Well Alvie, you’ve done it again!” He exclaimed. Out of that whole pile of magnificent
opportunities, you managed to end up with the only unimportant task!” Shaking his
head in dismay, he handed the scroll back, then turned to join the other angels
preparing to leave, somewhere to be a part of Gabriel’s procession; some where to
sing in the celestial choir and somewhere to serve as special messenger to the four
corners of the earth. It seemed as if every other angel in heavens outer province had
chosen something exciting and important task which could lead to a promotion and
perhaps a chance, someday to serve in the actual presence of the Most High God.
Everyone that is, except Alvie, who had waited to take the last scroll, the job no one
else had wanted.
Just before take off, Silas paused for a last word. “Even though you’re not coming
with us, you still have a job to do, Alvie,” he said. “Better get with it!” And with a rush
of wings, Silas and his companions lifted off into the sky already filled with other
important angels bent on the other important tasks. Alvie watched until the last angel
was out of sight. Then stepping to the edge of heaven, he gazed at the earth spinning
below. He was sorry Silas was upset, but inside, he didn’t feel left out at all. In fact, in
his heart he was delighted with his new assignment. It was the kind of job he loved best;
watching over a homeless, newborn infant. He really didn’t mind missing all the
excitement. So, with the last look at the scroll for directions and with a quick nod of his
head, little Alvie spread his stubby wings and dove into the sky then slanted himself to
earth’s direction, he set out to find a stable and a place called Bethlehem.
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