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Most
“Hallowe’en” (the correct spelling) stories are supposed
to be” scary.” Since I believe in God and go no place
without my Guardian Angel, there are many things which I respect, but few
of which I am afraid, since I know from experience an angel’s immense
protective power. Still, being
scared can, for some unknown reason to me, be fun for most of us, as long
as it is not from some serious danger. Thus, I submit my little story
for anyone who would like to be scared!
It is a true story. By the way, next to Christmas, Hallowe’en
has always been my favorite special day, from my first little tiger
costume.
About 1998-99, I was President of my local Rotary Club. Each week, as
“evening” clubs do, we met for dinner and business, generally
with invited guests and a good program. After a change of
restaurants, we found a great one in historic Lewiston, NY. I’d rather not give out the
name, since it has changed ownership, but for many years it was known
as the “Bloody Bucket,” first built around 1850. This place had seen decades of
Niagara Frontier violence; hence, that name!
The waitresses told us right away that the restaurant was
“haunted” by five ghosts, all of whom they had actually seen at
some time and with whom they even talked! One was in the kitchen
area, where an old wall was actually about five walls built over one
another. One roamed the beautiful balcony outside. Another was
a young lady or girl, who just
sat on the staircase, located directly across from the entrance and waited
for her fiancée to arrive. But he never would arrive, since he
had been killed on his way to her. I did not get all the stories, but
the staff had, I believe, an old painting of one ghost.
One night, as we who go everywhere early arrived, the staff explained
that one ghost was in a “bad mood.” OK. All of us early arrivers were well
inside and far from the veranda or the door or the front hallway. There was no one on the balcony, no
one just then parking, and not one person not inside near the rest of
us. Well, no one except ......
Suddenly we were jolted by a loud crash! An old, huge wooden china
cupboard had “fallen” over flat onto the floor in the
entranceway, along with the newer coat rack! We hurried to
investigate. No living human was anywhere inside or outside near the
scene! It took two of us men to place the cupboard back
upright. Since it had fallen flat onto carpet, few, if any, china
pieces had been damaged.
However, at that moment I became angry with the ghosts. “If you
do anything like this again, I will bring in an exorcist to send you on
your way—to a place from which you will never return,” was
my threat. I actually spoke this, but when the other men were out of
sight. Later, I discovered that an old lamp had been pushed over in
my cellar at home. Although the
globe had been broken, I had another to replace it; there was no real
loss. Our dog at the time was a small breed and could never have
pushed or pulled that lamp over. This was a sign, and I thought about
it. I knew what I had done wrong.
Please just imagine with me what it could be like, if ghosts are not
“evil spirits” (or other phenomena) but the souls of dead
humans who have not let go of this world and are trapped in a dark land
between two “worlds”! I thought and could not fathom the
feelings that such lost and trapped souls might have! Now I felt
guilty about my threat. It is
written in Scripture that Jesus Christ, after His crucifixion, went down to
free those trapped in Sheol, in the darkness below. For us who choose
Him now, there need be no fear; upon leaving this life, we will join Him,
just as the thief on the cross next to Him. Although I could give other
explanations of the phenomenon of the fallen cabinet and our apparent ghosts,
I chose then to accept that they were lost and trapped humans, trapped by
some desire or force beyond their own powers. That girl would
continue to wait for her fiancée for all time.
Since I first wrote this story about 5-6 years ago, there has been a great
increase of interest in trapped human souls (not demons).
On the next meeting evening, I went even earlier. I stood alone at
the foot of the staircase, looked up, and said: “Guys, I am sorry for
what I said. I love you guys!” Love. At that instant there was not the
expected cold feeling, about which I have read. Instead a feeling of
warmth spread over me! As long as we ate there, I always greeted
whomever was in the front entranceway.
(When no one else was around!)
During the years, I prayed for “my ghosts,” but I have
never taken a real man of God back with me to free them. May God have
mercy on them and free them from their bondage! That is my “ghost
story.”
Tonight I felt that, as a Christian, perhaps God might want me to go. I have few psychic gifts, but I do
believe in the Name and Power of Jesus of Nazareth.
Anyone want to go with me?
2000 rev. Oct. 2006
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