The
Swamp Road Chronicles®
"Father Charles"
Dear Swamp Road Chronicles,
As per our conversation last week, I hereby
present my story, humbly submitted in penitence for my sins. Praise God, who in
His mercy, has shown me the error of my ways and has provided me with the Grace
to redeem myself. As I explained, I am a Catholic Priest. Though my parish is
not near Swamp Road, I had been informed of the paranormal activity there and
was very concerned for the soul of the young girl seen walking there. I
resolved to help her.
It seemed to me that her soul had been kept on
Earth as a kind of purgatory. The Catholic Church holds that "all who die
in God's grace and friendship but still imperfectly purified" undergo a
process of purification, which the church calls purgatory, "so as to
achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven". Until her time
was fulfilled she would be unable to ascend to Glory. However, the prayers of
the righteous can avail much and, as a righteous man of the cloth, I was
determined to pray, earnestly, for that young sinner. I believed that my
holiness could over-power her dark past life of sin.
I went to Swamp Road at 3 a.m. when the powers of
darkness are most powerful and walked that road in search of Sally.
After a short distance I heard a sound behind me
and turned around to find a pale young woman looking me fully in the face. I
thought, How prideful she is! No shame before a holy man
of God despite her sins! I rebuked
her. I commanded her to kneel and ask God for forgiveness that she might join
Jesus in Heaven. I called her an "Unclean Spirit," a "Familiar
of Satan", and a "Lost Soul."
Sally, that poor dear child, knelt down by the
edge of the road in response to my command. Using her finger she began writing
in the sand. She turned and looked up at me and I could see what she had
written.
My entire life was turned upside down. She had
used the very method Jesus used to chasten the Pharisees when they wanted to
stone to death a woman caught in the very act of adultery. They had tried to
pressure Jesus to condemn the woman according to Mosaic Law. He knelt and wrote
in the sand. No one knows what He wrote, but He stood and said to the
Pharisees, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to
throw a stone at her.” Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. — John
8:6–8
Sally had written, "Pride" in the sand
and then she looked into my eyes. I understood, then, that I had approached
Sally with a prideful heart. I had felt superior to her because I believed
myself to be "Holier" than she. Who was I kidding? We are all sinners
and I was one of the worst. I condemned that child for the wickedness I
presumed she possessed, but through my pride I was a wicked one as well.
Convicted in mind and soul, I said "Forgive
me" to Sally and with my eyes overflowing with guilty and remorseful
tears, I turned and walked back to my car. Back at my church's altar rail, I
prayed until past sunrise for forgiveness and humility.
I have tried to examine my heart every day since,
to be humbly worthy of my vocation.
Come Holy Spirit!
Through
His blessings and Grace I remain,
Your
servant and slave for Christ,
Father
Charles.
As
submitted by Father Charles. Dublin, Ohio June 30, 2023
© Copyright 1992-2023, Randal Lenn Hall, All Rights Reserved.