The Angels of Love, Life and Hope
by Benji Raymond

There, just beyond the reach of the most graceful bird, lives the Angels of Love, Life and Hope. These three angels spend the little free time they have waiting and watching. They take great pleasure in the minute details that often go unseen by the majority of angels. From the highest of the clouds they sit and wander about the purpose of life. After a moment in silence, they almost always seem to unite with a familiar smile. This sure enough relates to the idea that they need not ponder about the principles and rationales of life that seem to plague the average human being. On the contrary, they understand all of this already.

The Angels of Love, Life and Hope are certainly no more significant than the many other angels. And yet, every now and then there continues to be the odd one or two envious angels that snicker about their work being effortless and trouble free. But by no means do these three entities acknowledge what they do as mere day-to-day errands. No, their purpose is far more profound than that.

These Angels are unbound by the constraints of time, and though their work appears to be unforced, they take great pride in the wonders of their service. But perhaps it is necessary to tell you about their work, since this is after all the reason why I am introducing you to them.

In a predictably unpredictable moment of time, a baby is born, and who might be better to welcome this new being into the world than the Angels of Love, Life and Hope. This child requires a message, a glimmer of hope that will assist it in its new life.

In this moment of time, the supernatural beings sit and smile since they can see what lies ahead of the child. They take note of the adversity that will almost certainly follow in the midst of the child’s footsteps but they only appear to recognize and appreciate the happiness, accomplishment and triumph.

The angels think for a moment and then the angel of love says: ”You will inevitably fall in love, and at times there will be rainbows in the valleys and at other moments there will be storms below the clouds. There will be times when you will agree with your partner, but undoubtedly there will be times when you will quarrel. Cherish both of these times; for love is a cycle. You will meet people like and dissimilar to yourself. You will laugh with them and cry with them, too. Time will appear to go quickly when spent with them. These people will care for you and love you.”

There remains a certain respect between each of the three angels and when the one angel finishes her message, there is a moment of silence. Although this moment is understandably a second or two in duration, it mysteriously appears to be far longer.

Then the angel of Life says: "You will need to work hard in the many years ahead. Your dreams will not be easily achieved. Your goals will not be effortlessly reached. There will be tears shed in tough times. Nevertheless, there will also be tears when there is joy. Some days you will lack desire to carry on but these days will not last long; for darkness only appears until the light returns. On these days, work extra hard and smile even if there is no reason to smile, for each smile creates a new spark, a new smile in return."

Then the angel of Hope says: "Days may speed by as fast as light but may also go as slow as a snail trying to reach its far off destination. You must learn to love these days, the progressive ones and the rapid ones, for the sluggish days are the ones in which you will reflect and grow and on the swift days you will enjoy life but may consequently not spiritually gain."

It is precisely after this sentence that the angels state in unison;
"Always remember that the sun will rise at dawn, that each day is a new day and that as long as morning sunshine continues to wake you from the core of your dreams, you must continue to have faith and hope."

And with that last thought, the angels wave goodbye and disappear into the thin air and the newly born opens its eyelids ready to begin the life long journey of growth and discovery that awaits us all.

The Flip Side