Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Space (01/23/06)
-
TITLE: In High Places | Previous Challenge Entry
By Shari Armstrong
01/25/06 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
I rolled over. “Leave me alone,” I peered at the offender through slits, “Too bad they couldn’t give us more room so we didn’t have to hot bunk!”
“Phil, you know as well as I do that the cargo takes up the majority of the ship. Space is at a premium.”
Carl was right, but that didn’t mean I had to like it. I believed in the colony project, so I had to sacrifice having private quarters. “Eight hours should be enough sleep, but I’ve been having trouble sleeping.” I got up and grabbed my shaving kit. “Weird dreams.”
“Dreams, huh? I’m looking forward to a few of those.” Carl curled up under the blankets I’d just left.
I shook my head, “Not these. I keep dreaming that there are things flying around the ship.” I changed into my uniform.
Carl snorted, “Aliens?”
“I’m not sure? I never really see what’s out there, but more like I feel it. Sometimes, I wake up and I feel ok, but other times….”
”Other times, what?”
”It’s like what’s out there is trying to stop us.”
Carl threw a boot at me. “You’re just goin’ space crazy. Get to work.” He rolled over and was snoring almost instantly.
I walked past the Captain and his wife’s quarters and then the ladies’ quarters. The eight of us had really gotten to know each other well over the last few weeks. Better than we may have wanted.
Anna’s voice greeted me. “Good morning, Phil.” She looked at me, “You didn’t sleep well again did you?”
I shrugged. “Not really.”
“You really should tell Erin about your dreams. At least she can prescribe you something to help you sleep better.”
“No, I don’t need pills.” I was relieved to reach the command center, so we could stop talking about it.
“Good morning, everyone.” I said.
Jody stood up from the workstation we shared. She smiled, “I’m going to check the cargo. I just want to verify some of the readings I got earlier.”
The captain looked up, “Morning, Phil.”
Erin left her station and placed a hand on the back of my chair, “If you don’t talk to me voluntarily about your sleeping problems, I’ll have the captain order you to see me.”
I rolled my eyes, and faced her. “It’s not a big deal. I’ve just been having some odd dreams.”
”That’s not the point. If any of us aren’t working at our best, we put the whole team at risk. Ty and I were discussing it...”
“What?” I jumped out of my chair, “Since when is my personal business suddenly the ship’s gossip?”
“It’s not gossip. He’s also a qualified medical professional and I was consulting with him.”
”He’s a veterinarian!” I felt someone standing behind me. I turned. “I’m sorry, sir.”
”Son, come with me.”
“Yes, sir.”
We walked to the galley, and he motioned for me to sit down. He grabbed two mugs, filled them with coffee, and put one in front of me as he sat down.
“Cassandra and I were discussing dreams as well.”
I started to respond, but thought better of it and drank my coffee and listened.
“She has been having odd dreams also.”
I about choked on my coffee. “She has, sir?”
He nodded. “Do you believe in God?”
I was confused, “Well, yeah, but what does God have to do with this?”
“We believe we were called by God to lead this team. Ever since we signed up, there has been one problem after another. Like someone was trying to stop us. There are forces out there that we can’t see.”
“What are you talking about?”
”Spiritual warfare.”
“Go on…”
“I think what you’re sensing are the angels and demons surrounding us.”
”You’re serious about this aren’t you?” I actually started to feel less crazy.
He nodded and took another sip of coffee. “You heard all the jokes about ‘Noah’s Ark’ when the project was started. They thought we were all a bunch of fools. God has a reason for this. In Ephesians it says, ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.’*
“I still don’t get it.”
”It doesn’t get much higher than we are. I think we can sense God’s presence here more. And evil’s.”
”So what do we do?”
”We pray.”
* Ephesians 6:12 KJV
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
