Driving to Sacramento from Seattle is a pleasant, beautiful trip, so I looked forward to the drive with great anticipation. Our Dodge Ram was packed to the limit with books, tapes, and luggage enough for ten people, although only five were going. My son Tom and my friend Ellie both eagerly volunteered to do all the driving, telling me that I could sit back and mentally prepare for the Sacramento Gathering. They took the two front seats, and Joe, Tommy Jr. (Tom’s eldest son), and I rode in the back of the cab. We were hours down the highway when it occurred to me that my volunteers had the best seats in the truck -- no wonder they were so gleeful. Soon, we settled on frequent breaks and shifts in seating, which made life more comfortable for us all. We arrived in Sacramento late that Thursday evening anxious to see everyone in the morning on Friday.
The next morning, I sat at the Staff breakfast table and listened to details of the coming events for the weekend. Through the meeting I fought back tears of love and joy as each WAVE checked in and passed by our table. There were tears and squeals of delight with each welcome. I can only compare this day to my greeting party in Heaven when I was met with a similar jubilation. What elation, what joyousness in embracing those you love and have always loved!
After breakfast, we went to the ballroom where I would be speaking to the public that evening. The setting was perfect. There was a stage with a piano, a dressing room, and a side door to enter backstage that was at a distance from the guest entrance. Every detail of the event showed thought, precision, and care, down to the very moment I would walk through the door of the ballroom and greet the public. Such planning of the Staff!
As guests entered the room, they were greeted by music and song performed on stage by our amazing WAVE music group. These beautiful Angels brought their musical instruments from far and wide to join their talents in service with each other. Words cannot explain how I felt. I stood behind the curtains near the stage and wept tears that came from unexplainable emotions deep within me. People nearby wept, too. The Spirit of God was that strong, that powerful! The ballroom filled with God’s permeating love, and with expectation of more love to come.
The choir of WAVES sang “On Eagle’s Wings” as I entered the ballroom. This was a divine appointment – with God, with them. Each person in the room, I knew, was called to be there. I personally greeted as many as I could, and I saw tears streaming from the eyes of hungry souls looking for love and understanding of life, looking for God. I felt heavy with responsibility because I knew they had come to find answers through my experience. Some came in great pain from the loss of their loved ones.
Many of the guests lingered after the event, not wanting it to end. They spoke lovingly to each other, embracing strangers that cried. When the hour grew late and the meeting had to close, with bowed heads both WAVES and guests alike joined with me in a circle of prayer. This was an incredible ending for an extraordinary day. We felt God’s complete love.
The days that followed seemed a bonus that blessed us for our efforts given the night before. We spent time learning, sharing, and growing in greater love. The hours spent in our circle of prayer for others blessed us with the most incredible feeling of love for our Heavenly Father and for each other. Our hearts joined in a deeper friendship through each prayer, and I shed more tears of joy for the beauty I saw in each WAVE.
We were a potpourri of WAVES. There were the seasoned WAVES, the brand-new WAVES, the already-acquainted WAVES, and those who were only familiar with names from the message board. The blending of all the WAVES did not take long. Many lasting friendships developed.
Love shone throughout our meetings, giving recognition to a love that I knew existed between us eons ago -- eternities past! Yes, we felt a family tie, an unexplainable oneness. But then, why shouldn’t we? The Earth is not where we first met. Our bonds and commitments have simply brought us together now to be united in purpose to serve God. The bond we shared at the Sacramento Gathering cannot be adequately, or justly, described. But that bond is sealed in my heart, where I know love resides. It will keep flowing there, and I can revisit it again and again and bask in its perfection.
My love and appreciation goes to our WAVES Staff members who helped in the creation of the Sacramento Gathering. Their hard work in production and management was nothing less than astonishing! Thank you!
Betty
