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“The Angels of Saint Francis” by Jeff Frank June 21,2008 “I Have Seen

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“The Angels of Saint Francis” by Jeff Frank June 21,2008 “I Have Seen “The Angels of Saint Francis” by Jeff Frank June 21,2008 “I have seen and met Angels wearing the disguise of ordinary people living ordinary lives” Traci Chapman Dedicated to all the Angels in hospitals and everywhere, Disguised as humans. Angels at the party…Laura, Guy, Sandy, Judi, Ray, Karen and Gary, Tom, Jeanne, Carol, Margie, the waitress Angels in the Ambulance….Rita Wyatt, Luke Hardcastle, Al Tedesco, Mike Bouche and Terry, Tracy Martin Angels of St. Francis…. Genessa, Lilly, O’Ramas, Paul, Lynette, Maria, Joseph, Tara, Asha, Sherry, Terry, Steve, Bob Quinn, Jack Soterakis, Rocky Colangelo, George Petrussian, Vinnie Jamm, Jacklyn Thoresz, Mike Como, Dr. Hoch, Angela, Robyn, Barbara, Dorothy, Dorothea, Dolores, Erica, Eric, Dan, Richland, Vera, Michael, Tara, Rochelle, Elishia, Nellini, Mark, H. Sinan Berkay, Erin Rose, Joseph, Richard, Asha, Tamar, Maura, Mary Claire, Arcie, Melissa, LaToya, Mary, Michael, Rose, Francine, Andy, Willie Pete, Catherine, Christine, Mark, Carrie, Susanna, Debbie, Theresa, Sophe, Victoria, Francine, Juan, Adrianna, Jennifer, Francine, Christine. My Family Angels… Jennifer, Mark, Claire, Daphne and John, Elizabeth (Jean, Mike, Pat, Jan, Mary Jane, Kelly, Mark) Angel Drivers… Robert Burton, Steve Cholette The Angels of rehab…. Nancy, Kathleen, Alana, Jessica, Peggy and Ann My guardian Angel and body elemental, all the arch angels that worked with me, Michael, Azerial, Raphael, Gabriel, Urial For all the Green Guerrillas and friends and strangers who prayed for me when it was needed. My special thanks to Hilda Charlton, Sai Babba, Mother Mary, AmmaChi, Guru Bawa Muhaiyaddeen, Buddha, the Lords of Karma,Babba Ji, The Ascended Masters, Glycol, Ishmatalda, Serapis Bey, St. Germaine, Johan Venice, Hilarion, El Moyra, Kuthumi, Quan Yin, Mary, Gaia and Joshua ben Joseph and Padmasambhava 1 Giovanni Bernadone lived 800 years ago and a story about him came to us from a Sufi Master who was Rumi’s teacher, Chams. It seems Rumi was at the point in his life that he needed a mentor so he was told by a mystic that the person he sought would be found by a well after his burro had thrown him off. Rumi understanding the ways of Allah, left the man and soon forgot about the advice. One day while riding his burro in Bokara (in modern Afghanistan) Rumi was thrown off the burro and noticed it was next to a well. As he was sitting there a stranger gave him his hand to help him and as Rumi looked up at the man he remembered the prophesy from years before. He looked at the Sufi’s robes and knew this man was his teacher. “My Name is Chams”, said the stranger and Rumi immediately asked the Sufi to his home. Chams accepted and a beautiful friendship developed between the two. The only problem was Chams was not a simple Sufi but a man filled with the energies of a mans man, a sort of misfit mystic and liked to party stay up late drinking, talking and gambling and having just plain fun. Rumi’s sons did not appreciate Chams as Rumi did and finally told their father Chams had to go. Rumi was appalled but did what his family asked and told Chams he had to leave even though it broke his heart to see his friend leave. Soon the family realized that Rumi was affected in a sad way and was not the same as when Chams lived with them. The sons went to their father and told him, “We were wrong about Chams and did not realize how much he meant to you”. “We will search for him and ask his forgiveness and ask him to return.” “But where will you look for him? Rumi asked” “We have an idea”, they replied and left the next day going west. They decided to look for him in bordellos; gambling dens or any place partying would be going on. They picked up the trail quite easily and followed Cham’s trail to Damascus, which was on the ancient caravan trail. They began looking in all the dens of iniquity, every brothel or gambling den until they found him playing dice with an Italian Christian. 2 The sons of Rumi came up and said to Chams, “ Chams, we are sorry to have asked you to leave, our father misses you and we ask you to return with us to Bokara”. Chams put his dice cup down and introduced the boys to his partner, Giovanni. “Lets go boys and see how your father is doing?” Chams left Giovanni and went back to Rumi who was to become one of the greatest Sufi Saints; Giovanni gave up his wild ways and became one of greatest Saints of the Christians, St. Francis. O “Great Spirit” make me an instrument of your Peace. Where there is hatred let me show Love Where there is Injury, Pardon Where there is doubt, Faith. Where there is despair, Hope. Where there is darkness, Light. Where there is Sadness, Joy. O’ Great Spirit Grant that I may seek rather to comfort, than to be comforted. To Understand, rather than to be understood. To Love than be Loved. For it is by Giving that one receives, By Forgiving that one is forgiven, And it is by dying that one awakens to Eternal life. Preface: This is a story about Twenty-four days in the life of Jeff Frank, day’s that changed his life and everyone who knew him or met him later. Twenty-four days of a Journey filled with Miracles and wonder. The Tibetans believe in dimensions or frequencies called Bardos. They know Bardo’s open each second and bring miracles and change into our lives, however most live our lives in forgetfulness, either in the past or the future, rarely in the present moment. Ultimately we have to be present in the moment or we forget. 3 I learned to be aware of the changing scenes of everyday life and by accepting the change and realizing the possibilities by knowing it was my “Movie” I was 100% responsible for what ever I experienced. I began to practice “Short Term Memory Loss”, I figured there was too much to remember and I was going to forget anyway. I had watched “Finding Nemo” after a five year old friend’s child Katie said, “I don’t remember that, I have short term memory loss” after Dory the fish in the movie. I also practice “Make Believe”, Believing I am Wealthy, Healthy, Happy and Wise, I attract them to me. I have always thought “Out of the Box” as it came natural to me. I am an Organic vegetarian and only drink water. I went to a party and went on the journey of a lifetime. As the Bawa Muhaiyaddeen says of life. “Its all False! It’s all a dream! It’s all crazy! Its all Gone! It’s all right! Lets see what’s next.” “The news of my Death has been greatly exaggerated”. Mark Twain on reading his obituary. “Dying is easy, its comedy that’s hard.” Edmund Burke on his deathbed “Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well preserved body but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting “Holy Shit, What a ride!” George Carlin “The Knucklehead Prayer” by Jeff “Great Spirit,’ forgive us, for we are Knuckleheads” (It covers all the bases) 4 “It was a day like all days, filled with those events that alter and illuminate our times except you are there!” Walter Cronkite “You are There” Chapter 1 Wednesday July 4, 2007 July fourth, 2007 arrived much as any beautiful July day. I was invited to a party of an old friend who’s daughter Julie was born on the fourth as my daughter Daphne was and my first daughter Jennifer on July 2 so I was celebrating three birthdays that day. I felt great! My job as a substitute teacher in Southampton ended a few days before for recess and I could now concentrate on my volunteer work with an Organic school called “The Nature Lyceum” in Westhampton, NY. Getting ready in the afternoon, finding the present for Julie, a “Slim Spurling Healing Ring” and leaving the house wide open, as I would be back in two hours, the computer on, the radio on, the front door open. I walked out of the house thinking I would eat at the party. I would see my friend Laura, her dad Guy and Sandy, her mom Judi and many friends. A beautiful after noon with friends began with a 2-mile walk and a relaxed day. If you could have told me what was in store for me I don’t know what I would have done but that’s the big secret of life. The only two things we know is, we are going to die however we do not know where or when. I would find out. So the “Great Spirit” keeps his secrets so we can become aware, the concept of awareness then acceptance and change occurs on its own. I got ready to leave and decided to take the pictures I have of holy men and women. I did not usually do that. They are like old friends to me, but stay home. I drove over to Judi’s house around four pm, the forecast was for showers later, I pulled up across the street, got out of the car and walked into the backyard. There were probably 30+ people and a Sprite like serving girl that I some how felt I knew. 5 Looking around I walked in slowly and quietly noticing many old friends but for some reason I was looking for only one person, Laura who I called “Sunshine”.
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