Intercession
He called my name, and I was petrified.
Nothing here was familiar. Vast, alien chambers which appeared more imaginary than real. Too vast to have been built, with columns reaching to the sky where, if there was a ceiling, it was too high to see. A chamber, in the truest abstract sort of sense, without any trappings of frame, structure, or architecture. Difficult to describe, but in this moment, more real than any chamber I ever stood in before.
Yet it was not the magnitude, the strangeness, or the unfamiliarity which terrified me most (though they did not help). What terrified me was the voice. Calling me by name. Knowing me. An ethereal, commanding voice, which didn't so much come from any one place as it did fill all the space around and within me. I felt alone and utterly exposed. Those nearest looked at me with as much terror and confusion in their eyes, yet I could see they were glad it was not their names which were called.
A gruff guard stepped forward to escort me, which was just as well since for terror I could not move myself. He took me by the arm and led me forward. I shuffled along beside him, mustering all my focus to maintain what little composure I had left. Like an ant on the floor of an ornate cathedral, I scampered along without awareness of the magnificence surrounding me. For me, there was only the memory of that voice, and the fear of what He might say next.
As we walked down the vast, alien corridor, something caught my eye. A small object mounted delicately to the base of one of the columns. I stared at it a moment as we passed by, sensing recognition, feeling a strange connection to the shape. All at once I remembered. Familiarity washed over me in a flood, and I caught my breath. A cross. One familiar shape in this otherworldly palace. With a glimmer of hope, I looked again at the guard. I looked at the hand which held my arm as he led me along. It was marked by a scarred hole. I looked at his face as tears filled my eyes.
He smiled and said gently, "Let me do the talking."