LETTERS: EVENING VISION IN TEXAS REMEMBERED

To the editor:

But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God." -- Acts 7:55-56

During July 1997, I went to El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico, as a volunteer missionary. I had never been to either place before, so I had no idea what to expect. One day after the work was done, I beheld a vision above the Franklin Mountains of Texas that revealed to me the omnipresence of the Holy Spirit.

The daytime climate in El Paso is less humid than here in Southeast Missouri, and the evenings are cool and a little breezy. It's no wonder that, after working all day in the hot sun, some volunteers would leave the mission and savor the cool air in view of the surrounding mountains.

On the evening of July 14, I left the mission around 7:30 p.m. I went to a spot I had found at which I could sit on the trunk of my car and drink in the mountains and the sunset. As I watched for the orange wafer to dip into the mountains, I began to think how taxing life can be at times. It was a moment I needed comfort from something more than the pleasant evening air. So I spoke aloud these words to whoever was listening: "If things will work out for me in the end, give me a sign int he setting sun."

Within minutes, I began to notice something different in the bleached, golden evening sky. Where the mountains before me tapered off to the left, there was an opening in the midst of the feathery clouds. Looking at the opening for a moment, it appeared to me that another mountain range extended up and to the left -- behind the sun. If the mountain range were extended, the range would be over 20 miles high. Moments passed, and two lines formed on the extended mountains. They could have been roads, rivers or one of each. Either way, these lines stretched up the extended mountain to a vanishing point.

The most chilling feeling of all was the shape that materialized in a span of 10 minutes. I saw a cruciform figure standing to the right of the two lines. It remained there for about four or five minutes. Goosebumps sprang up on my arms, and I shivered a little. All I could do was say aloud, "I'm coming."

After declaring my intentions, the vision in the sky began to dissipate, and a strong breeze began to blow. The breeze became so strong and blew so much sand into the air that I had to leave.

As I left, I had a better sense of what to expect from my trip to Texas. I felt a presence so pleasant, so strong that to this day I can still feel that evening vision.

I cannot ever having read Acts 7:55-56 until recently -- after this event.

STEVEN R. BENDER

Cape Girardeau