What Does an Angel Look Like?

Paul was a famous artist. He had painted many pictures of people, Jesus and angels. But it had never been as difficult as this time. He had to paint the face of an angel but he could not figure out what kind of face it should be. The faces he tried to paint were too human, not angelic. And he could not ask for an angel to sit in a chair in front of him.

Paul decided to take a break and go for a walk. Even the sky was dark gray, he noticed as he walked down the stairs to the street. There was a lot of noise on the street and people going here and there. He wanted to hide from the people. Paul decided to take a walk in the countryside. Maybe the atmosphere of the town bothered him.

The beauty of the fields and forests surrounded him and he breathed deep the fresh air and began to feel better. Even the sky was brighter and not so dark anymore. The ever-changing painting of nature was a peace to his mind. After a while, he decided to return to his studio. Maybe he could paint the face now.

But then he heard sobbing coming from a nearby cemetery. Paul approached the sobbing young lady and stopped. Should he talk to her or not? He hesitated. Instead, he decided to pray for her.

The sun began to shine on both Paul and the sobbing lady who became silent and looked at Paul.

As if by the grace of God, Paul saw the face of an angel he had been looking for. The young lady was so beautiful even in the midst of her tears. Paul smiled and so did the lady.

"Daughter, there is a resurrection in Nature, and all things do pass and go through their cycles, only to return once again to the fullness and the dawn of bloom, and in the resurrection your father dear shall return to you", Paul said.

"I know it, kind sir. I know it, but I am so lonely now", the lady said sobbing.

Paul took her hand and prayed for her. Suddenly he felt the radiance of Christ flow from him to the lady who began to smile happily.

"Oh, I do not feel lonely any more. I will go home now to my mother, who has been distraught with my grief, and I will no longer mourn; for I feel something within myself something that encourages me to believe you. I do not know why. Your words have meaning to me, and I am no longer sad."

It was as if the lady's face was now shining in competition with the sun that was shining brightly. It was truly the face of an angel that he was to paint.

Based on the book by Mark L. Prophet and Elizabeth Clare Prophet, Lords of the Seven Rays. Gardiner, Summit University Press, 1986, pp. 119-123. Quotes in italics, pp. 122-123.