white seashore contemplating the sea.

A bright shinning object began to descent; it landed

not far not making a sound; it was hard and black as

the ebony tree.

A messenger from heaven commanded a task;

at first it seemed impossible for wisdom I lacked.

He gave me a mission for me and my race;

and for all other races for in God they're the same.

What was utter by the ear must not be retained;

my people are suffering and great is their pain.

As Dawn was approaching; I ran to my home;

I missed my little ones and dear Cottie my love;

She must know the secret of the chest by the sea.

was my joy when some of her tears fell by my feet.

"If this is your destiny", she said very low, "do not

be a rebel to the mission from God".

"I know in my heart, my mind and my soul that you

have a destiny to millions untold.

I summoned my offspring to be by my side

they must remember what burns in my heart.

"I have a dream you will live in a nation where

you will not be judge by the color of your skin

but by the content of your character within".

One gave me a hug, the youngest a smile

Too young to discern their shameful denial.

"Oblivious to their color, they ran to their rooms;

the momentous decree; must I proclaim soon.

I must write my dissertation; my kindred are doomed.

Searching for inspiration in the long night ahead

I saw an old hand sketch picture lying on my desk.

It depicted my people; fetters on their feet;

An old rusty chain was place in their neck.

Unable to contain my emotions deep within

I began to cry loud as a man with great sin.

Regaining my composure it was now past one

The pen now in my hand I began to write:

"Let freedom ring a non-violent sound

to all kinds of people; the meek and the proud.

It was 1:37 a.m. I was a clear night. Trying to determine what was going on; I turn to look at the window to my right, I Noticed in the wooded area the huge pine tree my grandfather had planted when he bought this property from a Negro family Moving south east because the segregation issues some years back.

In retrospect, I began to think about the experience I had had almost two decades ago with the The Ebony chest by the Sea. My recollection of the past stopped abruptly. As far as I can see I think our entire acre began to glow. I opened the window and heard the sound of a rushing wind; my study was filled with a sweet smelling fragrance. About 10 feet above our house a great cloud which was silver in appearance appeared.

The Cloud began to divide as if an invisible had had cut it. Right on The center of the two halves an angelic being appeared. It was similar yet bigger than the one which appeared to me by the sea years ago. It began to flap his powerful wings and began to move very quickly towards me. I took in startle Amazement three or four steps back. He flew right through the left side of my study without disturbing a beautiful oil portrait I have on the wall of Frederick Douglas and some small black and white pictures of Cottie and my children.

My body began to shake violently and I fell to my knees, which were shaking. This angelic being must have been at least three feet from me.

"Fear not, little one", he said as I made an attempt to rise.

I sat on the old worn out floor of my study, completely speechless. I noticed he had a shiny object on his right hand.

"Fear not, little one", he said for the third time.

By this time I had noticed that the object on his right hand was a sickle; a golden sickle. He began to move the sickle very rapidly as if his was cutting something.

He repeated this phrase very fast.

The curved metal blade of the sickle was large and very sharp.

It brought vivid memories of the sickles my descendant used

In the plantation not long ago; as they toil from dawn to dusk in the burning sun as slaves.

The angel extended the sickle to me I extended my right hand

To take it but because of its weight it fell to the floor making a very loud sound. With both hands now I began to swing

The sickle as if cutting something on the floor. As I swung it

I too began to swing it rapidly as if cutting something.

The angel began to say as though a power within me was

The angel extended his hand and took the sickle from my hands.

I began to weep uncontrollably as I looked at this being in utter astonishment.

"Fear not, little one " He said again.

I made several attempts to rise to my feet; but could not.

My entire study was illuminated with a silver looking

Brightness.

Proclaim to the afflicted: Thy redemption draweth nigh"

"Salamu iwe yenu". The angel said.

I smiled at the angel as I knew the meaning of this Swahili

Greetings which means "Peace be with you".

I marvel to know that a visitor from the third heaven knows

So much about the affairs of man.

I try numerous time to speak to the angel, to question the

Purpose of his visit, but was unable to open my mouth. Deep engraved in my inner man; however, I knew, yes I knew.

I knew, that my birth at 501 Auburn Ave. in Atlanta, Georgia

coincidence?

"Decreed by God" The angel responded.

I knew That in 1941 when our family moved to 193 Boulevard in Atlanta was no coincidence.

"Decreed by God", The angel said.

My freshman years at Morehouse College.

"Decreed by God".

My growing interest in theology and social issues.

"Decreed by God", He said again

It again fascinated me to know that without opening my mouth this heavenly visitor knew some of the details of my life. Yes, angels can peek at some aspects of our life; but only the Almighty in his omniscience can peer through the keyhole of our lives, be it bad or good; be it done under the sun or above the third heaven. Heaven can surely tell our stories. How many times I heard my father exhort the congregation saying that

"even the hairs on your head are numbered"; "and we know", he would continue, "that all things work together> for good to those who love God, to those that are called according to his purpose".

"all things, pleasant and unpleasant"

"for good, for our good; God is not the architect of evil"

"Called; many are called few are chosen"

and oh, yes, "purpose, a meaningful and productive life

for the benefit of all"

Indeed, indeed, Daddy King. He was right on target as usual. How great it is to know that our short journey on this earth has a God given purpose. How great is to know that each and everyone of us can be a man or a Woman or even a child of destiny? Earthen vessels with a golden treasure within. Life does have meaning.

The angel made a gesture with his right hand as he moved slowly towards the pictures.

Every time the angel spoke; I listen attentively

For it was a spiritual wonder to behold.

I gradually began to discern; that something of

No small significance for me and my race must

Be unfolding before my eyes.

The angel’s countenance glistens again. Every time this

Happened, I knew he was about to speak.

"I must be loosing my mind", I though.

For the first time; I was afraid, but afraid of what of whom I was suddenly comforted by the recollection of my father’s exhortation to the church: "Greater is he that is in you

Than he that is in the world"; "Do not fear does who can

Kill the body but can not kill the soul"

The congregation would just love the manner in which he would open his big worn out bible and guide us to numerous

Passages of the holy book.

I heard the melodious sound of birds chirping as they began to leave their nest they have made above the window of my study. I looked at the clock. It was exactly 4:35 a.m. It

Seems brighter outside the dawn of a new day was at hand.

The angel’s countenance begun to shine. I turned attentively to hear the words from heaven.

The taskmasters whip them as they toil in Goshen

I AM the great Shepard my sheep I must led"

which dwell in houses of clay".

The angel said as he pointed his index finger towards me.

During my studies of theology at Crozer; I learned about

The angel’s hierarchy. Some are higher in rank than others. Some are nearer to God than others. We have angels, archangels, seraphim and cherubim .This is no ordinary angel. This must be an archangel .

"Come little one", He said. The door of my study opened by

itself. He made a gesture with his left hand towards the door.

As he proceeded to exit he said:

"All the portraits on thy wall man of valor are they all".

The angel led the way down the wide wooden stairs leading to

The first floor. He made a right towards my children’s room.

He stopped in front of little Martin’s room and stood in front

Of his tiny little crib. A beautiful rainbow surrounded his bed.

The colorful array glistened ; bringing vivid memories of the

Ebony chest y the sea.

The angel’s countenance glistened.

"Thus saith the LORD thy God: as the rainbow

The time has downed in the history of thy race

I nodded my head in agreement although all his

Prophetic utterances was way my limited perception

Of the spiritual realm.

The visitor’s of light countenance glistened.

"See thy child in his sleep

He extended his right wing towards his

Tiny crib. My son’s mouth began to glow.

The angel’s countenance glisten.

!Behold; the LORD thy God have

He made a right turn and proceeded to our

Firstborn bedroom only a few feet away. Again

The door swung open. If you look from our

Daughter’s bedroom window you will see the

Vegetable garden Cottie and I planted the last

Week of April. Lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, kale,

Spinach and our all time favorite collard green.

Every summer uninvited guest such as rabbits,

Raccoons and beavers would try to make a meal

Out of our garden. We built a three-foot wooden

Fence with some wires around it.

"Thy daughter too; but to a smaller decree

I was moved when this visitor of light took

A multi-colored quilt Cottie had knitted during

Her pregnancy and cover up to her shoulders.

!What love; how caring, I thought. To think that

the vast multitudes deny God and the supernatural.

While America has engraved in her currency and

Court rooms the motto: "In God we trust". Little

Trust is evident throughout the land.

About few seven feet across was our bed-

Room. The door swung open. I follow the angel.

He hurriedly exited our bedroom. Unable

To keep up with his speed, I ran the long corridor

Leading to the back of the house. He went through

The door. Before I had a chance to grab the door

Knob the door opened. A gentle cool breeze blew

In my direction. The angel began to flap his power-

Full wings. Amazingly, although I felt a powerful

gust of air all around me; non of the tender flowers

growing all over was disturbed by it. A beautiful

rainbow encompassed the clear blue sky. This is the

first time I saw a rainbow without any rain. A Huge

cloud appears it split open right in half and a giant

rusty chain. Each link of the chain must have been

at least ten feet in diameter. I t was similar to the one

depicted on the portrait on my desk. I counted the links;

eight in number. A huge hand dark in completion appeared

holding the same sickle I had seen previously.

land". The angel began to say. Every time the angel

said that the hand began to swing the sickle until all eight links

had crumble to the ground making a loud noise.

I also noticed that the hand was similar to my right hand in appearance. What can all this mean? I pondered.

Eight links on a chain

Many colors all the same.

"Salamu Iwe yenu, little one" he said.

I raised my right hand and wave at him as he made his ascend.

Within seconds he reached the split-opened cloud. The cloud

Began to close. I heard the sound of a powerful thunder and

Saw flashes of lightening in the horizon. I heard the sound of

A cock crowing. It was 6:08 am and I was awakened to a new

Dawn.