Aprayla's Path

Aprayla sat patiently looking up and down the endless rows of angels, who sat waiting in the great hall. She had seen many who had waited so long they just gave up and became halo polishers or joined the heavenly choir. Both were grand, and both honored the father, but Aprayla had her heart set on becoming a Guardian Angel. This was one of Heaven’s most important tasks, and held much responsibility. If the job wasn’t done according to the Father’s will, a soul could be lost forever. Yes, the responsibility was great and Aprayla wasn’t real sure how she would help a new soul get through its life, but something in her heart told her she had to try.
“Look! The choosing has begun,” said a little angel, who was sitting next to her. He was a plump little fellow with bright green eyes and fiery red hair. His smile was hopeful as he watched the halo of each chosen angel grow brighter then disappear--angel and all. Aprayla didn’t watch. Instead she closed her eyes tight and prayed that she would be among the ones chosen. But soon she would open her eyes and just go on waiting.
    “So how long have you been waiting?”  he asked her as she opened her eyes.
    “I don’t know, But it seems like a very long time,” she replied with a sigh, “Sometimes I wonder if I will ever be chosen.”
    “Sure you will, your soul just hasn’t been born yet. But when it is, you will be chosen. Watch and see,” he replied.
    “What’s your name?” she asked curiously.
    “My name is Michael. What’s yours?” he replied
     “Aprayla,. How long have you waited?”
    “I’m not sure, but I know I must be chosen soon. You see I’ve tried everything else there is to try, and I just don’t seem suited for anything else,” he explained.
    “So why do you think you would be suited to be a Guardian Angel?” she asked.
    “Because it’s the last thing I know to try. I don’t know what to do if I’m not chosen! What’s an angel to do if they aren’t serving the Father?!” cried Michael.
    “Don’t worry, I’m sure you will be chosen,” she said trying to reassure him.
    She looked around wondering how many others were there for the same reason as her new friend.  How awful it must be, not knowing how you are to serve.  She had always known what she wanted to do, and she knew her heart wouldn’t settle for less, even if she had to wait all eternity.
    Aprayla’s thoughts were interrupted when she felt someone tap her on the shoulder ever so gently. She looked up to find the sweet smile of her dear friend Lapraisehim.
    Lapraisehim was one of the most respected angels in the great hall. Some said he was one of those, who did the choosing, but no one really knew for sure. Lapraisehim was mostly known for his great wisdom and his grace-filled kindness. He had been a Guardian Angel many times and was said to have never lost a soul. Perhaps that’s why Aprayla admired him so.
    “Hi Lapraisehim,” she said, greeting him with a warm smile.
    “Hello Aprayla. How are you doing?” he asked, “Are you still waiting?
    “Yes, I’m afraid so, my friend and I’m beginning to wonder if I will ever be chosen,” she cried.
    Lapraisehim thought for a moment then asked, “Aprayla, can you tell me why you want to be a Guardian Angel?”
Aprayla wasn’t sure how to answer and she stumbled over her words as they fell out of her mouth, “I don’t know. It’s just what I’ve always wanted to be.”
“Well what else have you tried?” he asked.
“Nothing,” she replied.
“Nothing!” he questioned with a hint of disbelief.
“No, as I said, I always wanted to be a Guardian Angel. So there didn’t seem any reason to try anything else,” she concluded.
“No reason! Oh Aprayla, there are countless reasons why you should try as many ways of serving the Father as you can. Learn just as much as possible, knowing everything is valued by the Father. Only then will you know what path the Father has chosen for you!”
“Oh heavens, I never considered that the Father would choose a path for me! I thought that was only for those we cared for?”
“Aprayla aren’t you just as much a part of the Fathers creation as the mortals?”
“Of course I am!” she replied.
“Then do you feel he cares for his earthly children more then he does us here in heaven?” he questioned her.
“No. I suppose he loves all creation the same,” she replied beginning to understand.
“Then loving us as he does, would he not give us a path to follow as well? A path that would lead us within his will, rather then our own--that would surely lead us and those we care for to destruction? Aprayla before you can help others walk their path; you must find your own way. You must know your own strengths and weaknesses. Life is very hard for the mortals! They need all the experience we can offer them. You just take some time and think about it. I know you will make the right choice.” He then left her to consider her options.
Aprayla watched until Lapraisehim had disappeared among the endless rows of Angels. She knew he was right and was grateful to him for all his help. She wondered how she could find the path Lapraisehim had spoke of. She decided she would begin by making a mental list of all the jobs she knew of in Heaven. Then she would try each one until she found the one that was right for her. Surely then she would know all she would need to know to be the best Guardian Angel possible. Then she would return to the great hall and would most certainly be chosen.
“But what should I try first?” she asked herself. “All seem to be just fine.” She had to choose the one she would enjoy the most. She spirited herself to the steps outside the Great Hall and was surprised to find her friend waiting for her.
“So my friend, you have decided to begin your quest for truth and understanding?” he asked.
“No, I’m afraid I haven’t. Heaven has so many jobs. I’m trying to find the one I would like most. What do you think I should try?” she asked.                                               
“Well lets see,” he paused, “there is a lot an Angel such as you could do, but a job you would like? Let me think,” he said resting his hand on his chin, examining Aprayla from every angle. “Well perhaps you could try halo polishing or rainbow making. You could even try being a dream weaver or you could be a groundskeeper. Begin where you choose. For all paths lead to the Father.” he concluded.
“That’s a grand idea! Thank you my friend,” she said, as she spirited herself to the first job Lapraisehim had suggested.
“Hello,” she said finding one lonely Angel sitting on a stool. All around him were endless piles of unpolished halos.
“Hello. What’s your name?” he asked.
“My name is Aprayla. I have come to work as a halo polisher. I am looking for the path the Father wants me to travel and I must try a lot of different things. Being a halo polisher will be my first,” she explained
“Well help yourself. No one ever stays long, but I welcome any help I can get,” he replied handing her a polishing towel.
She took the towel. Then taking a halo from one of the endless piles, she quickly polished it and set it at her feet as she reached for another. But when she turned around she found it was gone.
“What happened? Where is the halo I polished?!” she asked.
“Oh it’s already gone. There is always someone waiting for a freshly polished halo.”
Aprayla polished halo after halo, and just as the first they each disappeared as soon as she put them down.
“You are doing a fine job Aprayla. I want to thank you for your help,” he said with a warm smile.
“You are most welcome. Tell me friend, how long have you polished halos?” she questioned.
“I’m not sure. A few hundred years or so, I guess. Why do you ask?” he said tilting his head from side to side.
“Oh no reason; I was just wondering? What else do you do?” she asked.
“What else do I do?! Well of course nothing else, I am a halo polisher. I have no desire to be any more or any less. I am the best halo polisher I can be and as long as it serves the Father, I can be happy doing it.”
“But of course you enjoy your work, right?” She continued to question him.
“No, not anymore. At first I did! I felt needed and useful. So I tried as hard as I could to be to the best halo polisher I could be, but soon I grew bored,” he explained.
“So why are you still doing it?” she asked.
“The need, of course!” he replied, his eyes wide with disbelief that she would ask such a question.
“The need?” Aprayla repeated his words trying to understand.
“Yes, the need. The job needs to be done and no other is willing to do it. So to serve the father I will joyfully polish halos for all eternity. You see it’s not so much what you do to serve. It’s the spirit of a willing heart that pleases the Father,” he explained.
Aprayla was humbled by his words. She had learned a lot. She realized she was looking for a job that would serve her rather then serve the Father. She decided from then on she would choose only the jobs where she was needed, and she would do each job as if it was the only thing she ever wanted to do.
She thanked the lonely angel, handing him back the towel. She spirited herself to the next job Lapraisehim had suggested. When she arrived, she found more Angels than she could count all busy making beautiful rainbows. And as with the halos each one disappeared as fast as they were created.
At first Aprayla wondered if anyone even noticed her, but then a loud hurried voice filled the air, and Aprayla turned to find a large man hurrying toward her.
“What is it? What, what, what can I do for you dear one? I have no time to linger. Well what is it, speak up child!!”
“I was wondering if you need any help making rainbows?” she asked humbly.
“Help, help, oh yes we always need help. Have you made many rainbows before? If you haven’t you will have to be taught. That will take time. I have no time, child, I tell you. I can not linger. Answer my question. Have you made rainbows before?” he insisted.
“No, but I’m willing to try! I need to try as many jobs as I can so I can gain all the experience I will need to be a Guardian Angel. I want to serve where I am needed the most. So if you need my help, I am willing,” she replied.
“No,No,No!” he said shaking his head, “A rainbow is far too important to leave to one who is inexperienced. Do you think just any angel can make a rainbow?” Aprayla didn’t interrupt, instead she just shook her head no, as he went on. “I think not! It takes a special gift. Yes, yes a very special gift!”
“Where do you get this special gift?” she asked curiously.
Suddenly he stopped and for a moment he just stared at her. “All gifts come from the Father!” he said, “Do you not know what your gifts are?!”
“No, I didn’t even know I had any until now,” she replied sadly.
“Then that’s why you don’t know what you’re meant to do. You must first find your gifts. Then use them to serve the Father. Now off with you. I have lingered far too long. I’m much too busy to linger,” he said as he hurried on his way, not even giving Aprayla a chance to thank him.
The next job Lapraisehim said to try was dream weaver. When she arrived, she found row after row of Angels sitting at weaving looms.