God Incidence

When I decided to start writing a children’s novel in March 2006, I knew I would need expert help with police procedures that would form a large part of the story. I Googled “Victorian Police Christian Fellowship” hoping to come up with something and found one obscure entry that talked about a Senior Sergeant who was disappointed that the Fellowship no longer existed and had started an email prayer support group for fellow Police Officers.

There was an email link and I sent off an inquiry asking the Senior Sergeant if he knew of anyone who might be willing to help. The entry on Google was almost two years old and I had no idea if the email link would still work.

Within an hour, I received an unexpected phone call. It was the Senior Sergeant – now an acting District Inspector – asking for more information.

I told him of my needs, and what I hoped to do. By the end of my phone call, I had my very own Police Liaison Officer; a Christian, who said he would be delighted to give me any help I needed. Eighteen months later, after countless emails, a few phone calls, two visits to Melbourne including one where I stayed with Paul and his family, my novel is complete.

Along the way, Paul spent twelve months in East Timor as part of the United Nations Peace Keeping Force, and I was able to write an article on his experiences as part of an assignment for a writing course I’m currently doing.

Not only did I receive help with my novel, and an important assignment, but I have made some new friends who have given me so much love and support on my journey as a writer.

Lynne Churchyard, Faithwriters.com

The place was my home, a suburb of Sydney.  It was winter,the year was 2000.

While my city was celebrating the wonder of our first Olympic games, my life was about to change, forever.  I was asleep, and had entered the dream world. Here I was, strolling beside the sea-side, water so blue and crystal-clear, the sand beneath my feet soft as silk and so white that it was almost blinding.

There was no other soul on the beach, but suddenly I was aware of a presence walking beside me, speaking words of comfort, reassurance. I couldn’t see the face, but I immediately recognised the person. His dress was almost as white as the sand that we walked upon, it felt like time had stopped. Just as clear as this picture was, so too the feeling of a tap on my shoulder. The kind of tapping as if someone were trying to get my attention, and I awoke.

Looking around the bedroom, I expected to wake with either my husband, or one of my children needing me… everyone lay fast asleep.

The next morning, I gathered the family, describing the dream, and the sensation of the hand on my shoulder…no one could explain so I tried to put it out of my mind.

he following day brought my answer. My mother, who had been fighting a battle with cancer, had fallen during the night…. my father found her the next morning.  As I drove my car recklessly up the motorway to her house, I realised in an instant my dream had been a message, a warning. I will always believe that the dream along with the hand that woke me, were both letting me know… ‘Get ready’

“Side by Side” poem written by Debbie Stevens, is based upon this incident.

It was 1970 and I had flown to Hawaii to meet my husband for R&R. He had been serving in the U.S. Army, in Vietnam. We had a wonderful week there and neither of us wanted to leave. He had to return to Vietnam and I had to fly back to Tennessee.

I was flying on a special military stand-by fare. The night prior to our departure, I received a call from the airline telling me that I had been placed on a later flight, due to my original flight being oversold. “What am I going to do with all this time between you leaving and my flight time?” I cried, as I melted into his arms. I was so sad about being separated and this just added to my distress.

When I returned home on the later flight, I was stunned to see on the news that the flight I initially was scheduled to be on had crashed, killing everyone aboard! I have never questioned a flight change or delay since.

Pam Archer
http://www.homespunhighlights.wordpress.com