I ordered a large Toasted White Chocolate Mocha. The first sip, with the new flavours swirling around my mouth, gives my senses an instant boost.
I slipped into the purple velvet chair, placed my coffee on the table in front of me and opened my laptop to read the news. Heaven. Sigh. Me time is the best.
He sat down quietly in the comfy chair across from me. I didn’t even notice him until he bumped the table crossing his legs. Startled, I grabbed my Toasted White Chocolate Mocha to save it from damnation.
He spoke.
“I knew that wasn’t going to ruin. I would have saved it but you have quick reflexes.”
I looked up at him and saw a forty something smooth headed man with a sparkle in his grey blue eyes. For a split second, those eyes bored into my soul.
I smiled, trying to hide the unease brewing inside my brain.
“That’s okay, nothing was ruined today.” I smiled and nonchalantly took a sip of my coffee and went back to reading the news on my laptop.
“I’m a seraph.” He interrupted.
Just like that. As if being a seraph was an everyday thing to be. A seraph. I studied him and realized he was dead serious.
“What exactly do you mean, when you say you're a seraph?” I asked. Although I knew what it meant — I wondered if he did. I am skeptical.
“I am a seraphim, a high ranking angel, just lower than an archangel. Sent by God.”
“My name is Robert.” he announced.
“Well, Robert, it’s very nice to meet you.” I replied, thinking it was time to drink up and leave. But something intrigued me about him. I didn’t want to judge him or run because he was different. My red flag radar was up, sure, but I didn’t feel threatened. He was too gentle.
He began writing on a piece of paper. Miniature marks appeared in a neat line — then he handed the paper to me.
“This is proof,” he said. "This is angelic writing."
By this time I am thinking, uh huh…..angel pen marks on a paper. Right.
I asked him what it said and he told me I wouldn’t understand it even if he translated it into English for me.
“Well, Robert, tell me what you do as an angel.” I asked.
“A seraph, you mean.” he corrected.
“Yes, a seraph.”
“I do good things now and try to make people happy. There was a time when I was bad and I hurt people."
I raised a quizzical eyebrow.
“I used to rob banks.” He studied me waiting for a reaction.
His eyes sharpened. His countenance more menacing and I wondered if it was because he just told me he was a bank robber at one time or if he was still a “bad” angel.
Robert the Robber I said to myself and stifled a giggle.
“A bank robber? Really? Did you go to jail?”I asked.
He told me he hadn’t gone to jail yet, but was going soon.
He divulged it was an armed robbery! A gun!
I knew nothing about gun types and it didn’t matter. This was a violent crime he confessed to. I just wanted to get out of the Starbucks or tell someone.
My fight or flight system just checked in.
Robert excused himself to use the men’s room and as he stood he told me he was going to ask the chief angel if he could give me a message.
Now I had to stay put to see how this played out. Curiosity may kill a cat, but I’m not a cat.
Within minutes he was back in his chair carrying another note with scribbled forms on it - similar to hieroglyphics. He gave it to me and said that the angel told him I’d be able to understand this one.
What if I can’t understand the message? Will Robert get angry?
Panic started to take over but I tried to remain calm.
I said, “Robert, would you mind reading this to me? I would love to hear your angelic voice speak these words to me.”
“Sure!” he said.
He began in a language I had not heard before. Not quite gibberish yet a bit melodic. Then in English he said —
“You are loved. God takes joy in you. Don’t give up. He is with you.”
Tears welled up in his eyes as he handed the paper to me again and told me to keep it forever.
“Thank you Robert, I will cherish this.”
As quietly as he'd sat down, he left.
With my large Toasted White Chocolate Mocha in one hand and the note in the other, I marvelled at what just transpired. I felt exhausted from the adrenaline that had surged through my body.
One more sip and my coffee was finished. I placed the empty cup on the table, folded up my laptop as I looked around the cafe for more possible seraphs.
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
~ Zephaniah 3:17
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