Heaven on Earth

This is, thus far, probably the nothing's favorite rose photo.

It is late and nothing must get to bed but wanted to write and share the photo. Much going on at Agnus Dei.

A voodoo head (previously thought to have been a rotten egg tossed by the neighbor who returns to mow) is discovered. But yesterday nothing realized the "rotten egg" was not decomposing, kicked at it with the foot, and was startled upon its rolling over to view a voodoo head, the kind that blood comes out the eye, like a pin stuck in it.

The "rotten egg" had been noticed about the time the voles came. (And now the voles might not be as numerous, as nothing has done a surveillance. There are also many birds, a flock of robins. that peck and scratch and no doubt make the holes that do not burrow down.) But some burrow down, and the Weeping White Japanese Pine appears to be terminal. The blessed statue of St. Fiacre (Fee-ah'-cra) is now standing guard near the tree and others affected. Nothing is encouraged to not give up the warfare--against the voles as well as the spiritual warfare going on with the neighbors' souls.

A priest was consulted regarding the voodoo head; and then the spiritual da called and iterated what the priest advised. Holy water was used on the voodoo head, and prayers have been offered in the Mary Gardens. In fact, nothing simply spoke to the Lord, reminding Him that these beautiful, costly, specimen trees and perennials are in honor of His mother, and He may do with them as He wills, since all belongs to Him. If nothing's going to this effort and use of funds on such frivolities has been displeasing, then too, He may do with the gardens as He wills.

As for the expense of the gardens, which is considerable, it means nothing to nothing compared to the price of two souls. The neighbors moved away after the last outbursts, in which the detective was notified via message of the upsurge. A week later, a moving van arrived, and they moved out with house yet not sold. A gargoyle type monster was placed beside the garage service door, just four feet from the property line. Yes, it is creepy.

But when nothing discovered the voodoo head, and the vole problem in direct correlation, nothing realized the supernatural implications of such vindictive hatred against what the neighbors do not even realize consciously: gardens dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. But the devil certainly knows, and so this battle continues to be waged against the forces of evil played out through human beings...by the Prince of Darkness.

The priest said the gardens need to be blessed on a rogation day. Nothing will consult the confessor when he returns. The spiritual da said the holy water and prayers will handle the voodoo head. A curse placed can be undone with prayers, for God is greater than curses. Nothing is told to laugh it off, as the saints did so with the evil one--but not as one duped. The laughter is of realizing there is progress here at Agnus Dei, and prayers for the neighbors must continue, and efforts in the Mary Gardens must continue, to the glory of God. As is said in the overused phrase, "it doesn't take a rocket scientist"..... When the devil rages, he affirms in a back-handed way, God's supremacy. Nothing has worked all the more in the gardens and in painting three additional picket fence sections. Silence and penance!

Nothing has a photo of the rubber voodoo head, and might post it or might not. The small rubber head grotesquely reveals: there is evil in this world, in our lives, and we must not be fooled otherwise.

But the rose called Heaven on Earth is about the the size of the voodoo head, and it makes for far lovelier viewing. The bloom expresses wordlessly the reality that it reveals: God created-- and continues to create--this world. He's in our lives, and many of us are in love with Him, adore Him. And we must bless others with His truth, beauty, goodness, and love.