Post by HOLLY UROR on Aug 27, 2011 17:26:25 GMT -5
Holly Uror both loved and hated hospitals. She loved how, through them, people were healed and their family's grief turned to joy. But far too often people could not be saved, despite advances in modern medicine, not that Holly fully understood or followed the field. Indeed, her parents would have her believe simply in the healing power of prayer. However, though Holly's faith was strong, she knew it took more than prayer to heal people, especially in places like this where faith was so often tested, rather than strengthened, by what occurred.
Conforming with his fervent belief that faith in the divine was what those at the hospital needed, Mark Uror had arranged for his church choir to come to the hospital that day and perform a number of hymns for charity, hoping, in doing so, not only to help people through the charity, but help those who heard the lyrics of the songs he had chosen. As much as Holly disagreed that this alone would bring about great changes, she knew it would still be of help; that and she enjoyed the chance to perform with the choir.
Having arrived at the hospital, Mark set up the show and, having made a brief introduction to the audience that had gathered. indicated to the choir that they should begin the first hymn. Holly stood a little straighter, feeling somewhat stiff and formal as she always did in her choir robes, but soon relaxed as the lyrics of the song enveloped her.
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.
Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.
Thy Word commands our flesh to dust,
“Return, ye sons of men:”
All nations rose from earth at first,
And turn to earth again.
There were more verses, five, to be precise, but as Holly continued to sing she found the verses blending into one, becoming akin to a noise in the background although the words were coming from her own mouth. As important as the sentiment of the hymn was, something of far greater importance was happening. Holly knew, without even having to think about it, that Dahlia was here.
Since their first meeting in the graveyard, Holly and Dahlia had become firm friends and near inseparable, as often as they could meet, Holly's parents and their lack of knowledge about Dahlia taken into account. Holly hadn't breathed a word about the mysterious woman to her parents - not only would she have had to explain how they met and deal with a tirade of why she was dealing with someone whom they would consider a stranger, but Dahlia was different to everyone else. It was as though she and Holly had waited all their lives just to be together.
Despite the power of the connection between Holly and Dahlia, it was only now that Holly became aware something was wrong. She knew Dahlia was there, but she also sensed, for the first time, the aura of the situation, as it were. Something had happened.
Holly knew she had to leave, to find Dahlia, but there was still another verse to go. The ten year old barely mumbled her way through it, so anxious was she to get away.
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while troubles last,
And our eternal home.
As the hymn ended those watching the display applauded politely. Mark Uror turned to face them with a gracious smile and a nod of acknowledgement; Holly seized her opportunity and slipped from the fringes of the assembled choir, walking at first so as not to arouse suspicion, but soon forgetting propriety, time and place and breaking into a run, letting the force that was leading her to Dahlia guide her. At last she found the right place, only knowing this due to the force within her and not through having read any signs in order to get there. Without pausing to do so now, Holly rushed into the room and, spotting Dahlia immediately, hurried to her side.
"Dahlia!" she cried, breathlessly. "What's happened? What's wrong? Tell me, please!"
Conforming with his fervent belief that faith in the divine was what those at the hospital needed, Mark Uror had arranged for his church choir to come to the hospital that day and perform a number of hymns for charity, hoping, in doing so, not only to help people through the charity, but help those who heard the lyrics of the songs he had chosen. As much as Holly disagreed that this alone would bring about great changes, she knew it would still be of help; that and she enjoyed the chance to perform with the choir.
Having arrived at the hospital, Mark set up the show and, having made a brief introduction to the audience that had gathered. indicated to the choir that they should begin the first hymn. Holly stood a little straighter, feeling somewhat stiff and formal as she always did in her choir robes, but soon relaxed as the lyrics of the song enveloped her.
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.
Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.
Thy Word commands our flesh to dust,
“Return, ye sons of men:”
All nations rose from earth at first,
And turn to earth again.
There were more verses, five, to be precise, but as Holly continued to sing she found the verses blending into one, becoming akin to a noise in the background although the words were coming from her own mouth. As important as the sentiment of the hymn was, something of far greater importance was happening. Holly knew, without even having to think about it, that Dahlia was here.
Since their first meeting in the graveyard, Holly and Dahlia had become firm friends and near inseparable, as often as they could meet, Holly's parents and their lack of knowledge about Dahlia taken into account. Holly hadn't breathed a word about the mysterious woman to her parents - not only would she have had to explain how they met and deal with a tirade of why she was dealing with someone whom they would consider a stranger, but Dahlia was different to everyone else. It was as though she and Holly had waited all their lives just to be together.
Despite the power of the connection between Holly and Dahlia, it was only now that Holly became aware something was wrong. She knew Dahlia was there, but she also sensed, for the first time, the aura of the situation, as it were. Something had happened.
Holly knew she had to leave, to find Dahlia, but there was still another verse to go. The ten year old barely mumbled her way through it, so anxious was she to get away.
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while troubles last,
And our eternal home.
As the hymn ended those watching the display applauded politely. Mark Uror turned to face them with a gracious smile and a nod of acknowledgement; Holly seized her opportunity and slipped from the fringes of the assembled choir, walking at first so as not to arouse suspicion, but soon forgetting propriety, time and place and breaking into a run, letting the force that was leading her to Dahlia guide her. At last she found the right place, only knowing this due to the force within her and not through having read any signs in order to get there. Without pausing to do so now, Holly rushed into the room and, spotting Dahlia immediately, hurried to her side.
"Dahlia!" she cried, breathlessly. "What's happened? What's wrong? Tell me, please!"
