The Waiting Room

 

The hall remained in gleam and glow, even as Lucifer's shadow entered the far doors boldly. His eyes darted to finally find God's shoulder. The closest he would ever come to meeting eyes with Him again.

"So... she is born."

Hasty and inpatient; in voice, in step and with every gesture or expression. A cruel amusement if one knew how patient Darkness could be.

"Soon." God took His peripheral as the shadow of Lucifer's chin lifted. "I assumed you'd be dramatic. The child's first cry to my first step in the hall. THIS hall."

He narrowed his eyes, endless and beautiful over every tile and pillar spanning their meeting place. God saw the irony; but more importantly, saw the purpose. Many things were moving forward, coming to their crux. The place, the feeling, they mattered beyond words in those moments. God leaned against the window's edge, enjoying the love, warm and tender rising through Him.

Lucifer took a step out, arms ungnarled to feel the very air. "Wishing to erase bad memories, perhaps? Why else call me to this crossroads?"

I'm the dramatic one?

"Don't patronize me." Lucifer leaned back at the heels. "Thoughts and words remain the same in these conversations."

God's posture squared. "Then hear my voice- in MY house!"

Lucifer's boldness folded in quickly, sending his gaze to the floor. Only to sneak envious peeks at the window. "Was I not sent for?"

"As a witness." God drew a hand through the air. In and out of the frame, there were the shapes humans knew, intersected with others not explored. Same could be said for the sounds, the textures, and His favorite, the colors! He grew them every day, alongside His children. The breath of life sent down to Earth, till they were ready to meet the blinding hues and fragrances. God kept it so, for them; for the many still to join Him.

"You realize what You've set in motion," Lucifer gave a snide smile. "What you, O Highest, cannot go back on?"

"You suggest I would?" God had to chuckle. To which Darkness laughed. "You 'suggest' it will change anything. The habits I exploited from the start will be there. Now and always."

God curled His fingers, lifting the breeze to move the clouds along. They held much-needed rain, but He was too eager to miss even a glance. Lucifer scoffed loudly in the lack of attention. "You really think by making it easier-"

Easy!!?!!

Darkness stopped, leaning a shoulder on a nearby pillar to mask any shuddering. Rain began its cascade form the clouds and God felt the earth sigh at the rapid drops soaking and storing in the dirt below. At their trinkle, soft notes of a chorus starting to abound. 

"How will this one live?" Lucifer challenged. 

God raised a brow. "As any other." 

Darkness drew himself up, the thoughts pleasing him. "Any other..." 

The voices continued their march toward the hall. Yet Lucifer seized his few moments. "You banish me on my belly, but that is eye-level with Your precious sons and daughters. Gloat Your great sacrifice, foretell of Your grievous pain; their growth will never change. For choice must remain; correct?"

The finiteness to his words could make God laugh, were the underlying desperation not so sad. He stayed by the window, counting the seconds to the sound of the rain. "Must you always crave the attention?"

Darkness made his next steps to echo along the hall. Again, arms out and fingers spread. "You'll remember, Highest, how they followed me out. Out of Your very ranks." He faced the throne, showing off his grin. "I was chosen. Then again, by Eve."

He placed a hand on the armrest, recalling the battle. "Shall I name more? While we wait for this 'innocent' baby?"

'Just another weak rock in the feeble heap of Your attempts," Lucifer's laugh echoed, enjoying his spotlight. Fueled in pride, still hungry and palpable. "Those You 'love'. These circumstances being so special, but You continue to hand them right to me!"

His shadow vanished with God's radiance reminding him where he stood. This voice would not ruin His anticipation.

"The hour I turn My head," God looked back on Darkness, incapable of standing straight in the true brilliance of the throne room. "You will hide. On your belly, you'll remember where this ends."

Even with His rock-hard voice, God remained watching. For He never missed a birth. But oh, how Darkness hated to be ignored. He stayed turned, breathing heavily. "I grow louder every day down there. And You shall carry wounds before I'm done speaking."

"As shall you." was God's only reply, sending comfort and strength down. I am with you. You will not stumble.

He felt Darkness' scowl at His concentration. "What were the words You used?" 

"'Concerning things to come'," God halted Lucifer, the same as any creation. By now the angels floated into the hall, taking the words up. "For unto us, a child is born..." 

Indeed, Darkness froze, fighting the cringe of Isaiah. God's eyes only lifted as the chorus rose from both sides of the hall. "And he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God."

"Everlasting Father," God pronounced with them. "Prince of Peace!"

Rows and rows of the chorus resounded the walls in ecstasy. "The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this!"

Their final verberation met the child's first cry, startled and gasping at the air in its lungs. The angels glowed and God beamed- and Lucifer shrank away. Yet held eyes so fierce and so beautiful. "Earth is still mine, Highest! Sin was invited in before it ever entered!"

God glimpsed back. "Now obedience has entered. From obedience will come hope. From hope, a forgiveness without blood. The veil will be torn."

Darkness could no longer speak, eyes wide. God nodded to the doors, dismissing him. "This is a celebration. You may go."

His exit was drowned out as the chorus' struck up again. God looked down once more, grinning in endless love at His daughter's face. "Welcome, Mary."

20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

~Hebrews 13:20-21~

MERRY CHRISTMAS!