THE ANGEL WITH A BROKEN WING

An angel was flying from one assignment to another on the earth, and by accident, she crashed into a tree. This was a shock. According to angelic principles, in our plane of reality, angels can go through solid objects. Because of the crash, the angel's wing was crushed and broken. She could no longer fly. So, as is the custom in the angelic realms, she sent a call out to her commander. The commander responded and the angel told the commander to ask God for a repair job, a healing, or whatever an angel calls for when they need to be fixed.

Several hours went by and God did not answer the request to be healed or fixed. The angel was getting impatient because the wing was starting to hurt. This was also a shock since the angel had never felt pain except when she was human. Getting more impatient by the minute the angel asked her commander to speak with God directly. Her commander arranged for a meeting between the angel and God. When the angel spoke to God directly, she asked God, "What is going on here? Angels are made to fly and do their angel work. We are not supposed to feel pain. We are not supposed to have accidents. What is going on here?" God listened to her but God gave no reply. He remained silent. At the silence from God the angel grew more impatient and more upset. She was getting angry and depressed. Even though angry and depressed, the angel waited patiently for God's reply but her patience finally ran out. Speaking directly to God again, the angel pleaded with God. She said, "We both know that you can do anything, so please fix my wing!" The frustration of the angel soon turned to greater anger because God was still silent. He was still not helping.

After a time, God finally spoke. God told the angel that indeed, it is within His power to heal, but right now, He would not heal the angel's broken wing. In exasperation, the angel asked "Why not? Why did you let this happen? What is the meaning of all this?" God told the angel that flying into the tree was not His will. God said He did not want the angel to have a broken wing. However, since this terrible event has taken place, this terrible event can now be used by the angel to God's advantage. God told the angel there are many things that need to be done on Earth. This accident is a way He can get these other things done. God also said, "What you think is important to you, is not important compared to what I need to get done through you. You will understand later."

The angel walked away still full of questions, doubts, anger, and frustration. However, the angel's problems were not over. Suddenly the angel realized she had become visible. It was bad enough to have a broken wing but now people could see her.

Now being visible, some people found the angel sitting under the tree. They could see the angel and the angel could see them. Not only was the angel visible, but the people who found the angel could also talk with her. The people offered to take the angel to a doctor but an argument broke out among the people. They argued over whether they should take the angel to a doctor or a veterinarian. The people who were pushing for a vet won out since vets know more about wings than doctors who treat humans.

At first, the vet was in a state of shock at seeing an angel in real life. He quickly recovered and the vet took x-rays. After reading the X-rays, the vet gave grim news. The news was the break in the wing joint could not be fixed. The break was permanent. The angel would never fly again. Both the angel and the people were devastated.

However, the people overcome their grief and mobilized committees, fund drives, campaigns, and community events on the angel's behalf. There was a huge outpouring of love for the angel with the broken wing. As time passed, the angel began to understand why God had not fixed the broken wing.

God had not fixed the angel's broken wing because of "the love thing". God did not heal the broken wing so love would spring forth among the people who came in contact with the angel. The angel also began to see God did not want an angel with a broken wing. However, since God had this opportunity, both God and the angel were to take what they were given and make great things happen from the accident or adversity. Even terrible events can bring out the best in people. This truth about terrible events bringing out the best in people was one of those abrasive, grating, gritty truths of life.

The result of this terrible event for the angel was that love came out of people who had not expressed love before. Generosity abounded in the selfish. Meaning and purpose were infused into people's lives for the first time ever. People who took so much for granted in their life became grateful and thankful. The angel walked the earth for many years telling angel stories until the day of her transformation.

On the day of her transformation, the angel instantly disappeared from the sight of people around her. Suddenly, in the beautiful gardens of heaven, she appeared before God and was whole, restored, and healed. God asked the angel if she understood. The angel said, "Yes, it is the love thing. We are supposed to try to bring love from darkness, love from adversity, love from hate, and love from situations that seem hopeless." And God smiled.

This story appeared as the June, 2004, Virtual Church message in Shepherd's Care Ministries virtual church site at http://www.findthepower.com