Apotheosis/Deification
Apotheosis/Deification
I talked last week about putting our pieces back together.
In the aftermath of Easter, I’ll be discussing the end result of putting the pieces back together.
A quick review:Trauma breaks us into piecesAtonement is the process of putting the pieces back together again into a whole.The ancient peoples’ considered that if you had been through the most scary thing ever, and faced it down - that meant you deserved god-like status. Most people in ancient legends had to die, or at least end up in the afterworld to achieve this. (There are stories featuring both the underworld and the heavenly realm, so the location doesn’t matter for this concept.)
Meaning: You have to be a god to have it all together.
We’re not. We’ve got lots of pieces and imperfections scattered all around. And its ok. We’re trying to function - not micromanage the world.
But there is a certain wisdom that comes with healing. And with the concept of atonement, that means that the wisdom we’ve gained has to be given to others.
Do you remember the post several weeks ago about Encountering the Goddess? I said it was about wisdom.
Its this wisdom and life experience which allows us to turn around and help others who are struggling.
So, we may not look divine, but when we reach out to help others… that’s close enough to share the light of goodness.
Here’s an example in story action from Red Trouble. You can read more of it on Wattpad, or pre-order it on Amazon…
Parents Hawk and Karina have just rescued Veronika (age 12) from her controlling state sponsored step father, Vladelstock, who Veronika has a massive case of misplaced loyalty toward. And Hawk Morrison finds himself a sudden step father to a young woman who has no idea what a healthy relationship looks like.
Red Trouble is told from Hawk’s perspective. (Also called first person)
Red Trouble by A. R. Mitchell
(Excerpt)
Soviet Occupied Berlin Germany
June 4, 1947 (Two Years After the End of World War II)
11: 45 pm
Karina wrapped her arms around the girl, speaking quietly. She looked up at me. “Hawk – I just found out where my son, Peter, is.”
I moved forward, not wanting to scare Veronika.
Karina smiled at her daughter. “Veronika, this is Hawk. He loves me – as your father should have. Can you tell him?”
She shook her head, hiding against Karina. “That’s all right,” I replied gently, watching as Karina tried to comfort her daughter while attempting to hold her own emotions together.
I offered my arms to Karina. She leaned into me, as Veronika watched us interact. There was surprise in her eyes. I touched Karina’s back and pulled her close. “What is it?”
Karina took a quiet, yet shaking breath. I could feel her trembling against me as we stood together. “Order 270 was issued by Stalin. It made every Soviet prisoner of war under suspicion for treason. It allowed them, their wives and their children to be imprisoned.”
“He’s imprisoning children because their parents were in the wrong place at the wrong time?” I whispered, forcing my voice to stay calm.
“Yes.” Karina swallowed. “My former husband truly did betray Russia. But that is no reason to send my son to prison with him.”
“Or leaving his daughter in the care of a –”
Karina’s expression warned me. I followed her gaze. Veronika was studying us with interest. I was guessing that Vladelstock never showed affection like this. I carefully reached out to Karina’s face and ran my hand down her cheek. Then I turned to Veronika, bringing Karina along beside me and told both of them, “We’ll find Peter. I promise.”
Veronika replied to me in English without any emotion. “I was told by Comrade Vladelstock that Peter was at Vozrozhdeniya Island.”
Karina collapsed.
“Momma!”
I caught my wife as she fainted, lowering her to the ground. Veronika stared at her mother. “What is wrong?”
“Karina?” I asked, leaning over her. I put my ear inches from her mouth. “She’s still breathing…”
“What should I do?” Veronika was in tears. “This is all my fault, is it not?”
“No, sweet, Veronika. This isn’t your fault.” I reached out and touched her shoulder. She jerked away from me.
Karina opened her eyes. “Hawk? What happened?”
“You… just… fell…” Veronika looked over my shoulder. “I remember the last time you did that…”
Karina took a breath. “I do too.”
“He was mean to you...” She looked at me. “But you… aren’t.”
Karina smiled at me. “Veronika, Hawk has never been mean to me. He is a very patient, kind man.”
Veronika stared at me. “Then I will come with you. We are going to rescue Peter?”
“Yes.” I smiled at her. Then I kissed Karina. “Feel better?”
She gave me a weak smile.
“I’ll get you over the border, and then we’ll figure our how to rescue Peter.” I helped her to her feet, my hands on her waist. Karina stiffened, and then relaxed as I readjusted my grip.
“Everything all right?” I wondered.
She nodded. “I – I think I just need rest.”
I gave a slight smile, remembering Howard Air Corps Base. “Yeah. We haven’t had much of that.”
There were three knocks on the door.
I pushed Karina into the shadows, making sure that Veronika was hidden away with her.
Delores entered the room with Fedosia. “We must get you out of Berlin before dawn.”
I looked at the women and motioned to Karina from the shadows, taking her into my arms. She was trembling.
Veronika stood beside her, equally frightened.
“Thank you,” I told Fedosia and Delores. “Our son’s life may depend on it.”
Hawk is consistently throughout the Red Trouble series, reaching out to his step children and his own children making certain they are cared for and reassured through the traumas that they face. One of the things he constantly repeats to his war traumatized children who expect to be yelled at is, “You don’t survive hell, and beg God for a family just to be angry at them all the time.”
You can read more of Red Trouble on Wattpad, or pre-order it on Amazon. It will be available in ebook and paperback April 18 (2023).
(And yes, Peter does get rescued and home safe.)
Perpetual Disclaimer for this series:
I am not a counselor or a mental health professional. I am going to attempt to avoid things which will cause alarm or harm, but I can't know what will trigger each individual. If you need to speak to a mental health professional please know that there are resources available.
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