Messenger: A Novel in 16 Episodes

Welcome to a bonus episode of MESSENGER! Over the past few weeks, we asked you to send us real-life stories of a message you received from an unexpected source. And you did!  A huge thank you to all who sent in their real-life messages! They are diverse and intriguing—inspiring and mysterious. The timing of the message was important—sometimes it was life-changing. Thanks again for listening and many thanks to all of your who shared these amazing messages. We will have more for you in another Bonus Episode later on! And if you haven’t received a message yet. Don’t worry. Wake up. Watch for it. Maybe your message is on the way!  Brad’s Message:My sick, frightened partner was struggling with AIDS and his behavior was taking a serious toll on me and our relationship. If I moved out temporarily, could that force some positive change? “You’ve got to take care of yourself,” a friend told me. “If you don’t, you’ll be no good to him in the end. If you’re going to move out, you’d better do it soon, because there will come a time when you can’t leave him.” Like a slap in the face, his words forced a paradigm shift. I realized we didn’t have the luxury of time to work on our relationship. Within a few weeks, I moved out, the hardest decision I’ve ever made. And that was the decision that saved us as a couple.  Audrey’s Message:I was looking for a place to live and had passed a particular apartment complex many times. I soon realized it was really the perfect location for me. I went in to talk with the staff about possible openings, but no one was on duty and I couldn’t get in.I turned to go and a woman in a wheelchair came right up to me. “Can I help you?”  When I told her I was interested in living there, she said, “Come right on in with me. I’ll show you around and I know two people who will be glad to show you their apartments!”  I took her welcome as a sign, the message I was looking for—someone to say, “Come in. You’re welcome here.” I called and got on the list but was told the wait time was 6-8 months. Ten days later, I got a call there was an apartment for me. It was the exactly right place for me.  Marie’s Message:Struggling with an overwhelming problem, I phoned a dear friend for advice. “Trust,” she said. “You’re going to have to trust that everything will work out.” A week later, another friend had brought several of us gifts—small, hand-made ceramic shapes with messages embossed on them. She’d put them in a bag and we each drew one out without looking. I drew a blue star. “Trust,” my message read.  Caroline’s Message:I was driving down a road and saw a church on my right. Towards the curb was one of those signs that would usually say something like “All Are Welcome in the Eyes of the Lord” or “Trust in God but Lock Your Car.” But this one was different. It read “Serve God, Serve Others, and then Serve Yourself.” That phrase struck a chord in my heart in an unexpected way. Although I wouldn’t call myself a religious person, the notion to put others before yourself helped me get out of a place of self-deprecating thoughts.  I realized whether you’re a narcissist or hating on yourself, you are still self-centered. Disrupting this pattern of thinking helped me so much. Thank you, sign!  Larry’s Message:Four months after my wife died, I was discussing going to Paris with dear friends. But I felt guilty about traveling without my wife. The next morning when I got out of bed, I stepped on something small and hard. It was a sterling-silver charm from her bracelet. And not just any charm. It was the Eiffel Tower! I believe it was a message from my wife. “Bon Voyage!” Genia’s Message:I was driving on 81-north many years after my father had died. Everything seemed fine, although the traffic was heavy. Suddenly I heard my father’s voice warn, “Get out of here.” Without thinking, I put my foot on the gas and sped up, as fast as I could go. Almost immediately, a huge 18-wheeler came over right where I’d been. I pulled over and cried, “Thank you, Daddy!” His message had saved me. Lucinda’s Message:  Soon after my father’s memorial service, I was walking in my new neighborhood and passed an older gentleman several times before we stopped to speak. He told me he was out on his lunch break. I marveled at his youthful appearance and he laughed and told me he was 81, the same age as my dad. He went on to tell me how wonderful the company developing my neighborhood was. He comforted, reassured and made me feel our decision to buy a home there was a good one. It would work out fine. Though I looked, I never saw him again. Why had he appeared that day? Why had he spoken of the same subject my dad had reassured me about in our last conversation? I think the older gentleman was a messenger.   Judith’s Message:On my birthday, I decided to get rid of an antique table. I took it to an auction house but was having a problem getting this table up the steep back stairs by myself. So, I went inside for help. A tall young man in front of me was just about the same size and shape as my dad, whom I missed very much since his death. “You’re 6’ 7, aren’t you?” I asked.  He nodded. “Yes, exactly.”  “I always recognize a man who is 6’7 because my dad was 6’7.”   When it was my turn at the desk to ask for help, I was told I needed to bring the table inside by myself. The tall young man immediately reached over and gently touched my arm, exactly like my dad would when he wanted to say, “Don’t worry, it will turn out fine.”  Without saying a word, I followed the tall young man out into the parking lot where he lifted my table and carried it inside, while I gratefully walked up the stairs behind him. I quickly thanked him and helped the worker list the table. When I turned back around, he was gone.   I got back in my car and began to laugh. The event was so meaningful because it felt like Dad had come to help me and give me a good laugh at the same time. Dad and I both have a wry sense of humor. The kind, tall, handsome young man in front of me who reminded me so much of my white dad was black. The encounter told me love is eternal and timeless; that race, sex and size are meaningless manifestations of the outer world. And humor is paramount to getting through this life with good mental health! Oh, and the young man’s name was Clayton—just like Dad’s!  

Welcome to another bonus episode of MESSENGER! Back in the early episodes, we asked listeners to send in messages that they had received.  We were so excited to receive even more real-life messages from our listeners since our last bonus episode, and we wanted you to hear them!  Just like the other batch, we heard lots of different kinds of stories with a common thread: the messages were life-changing to the receivers.  And just like in MESSENGER the novel, timing is always key.  We hope you enjoy!   M’s Message:I sat in a class as the first words out of the professor’s mouth were: “There is an artist within each of us. The purpose of this class is for you to find that creative spirit within you.” His words rolled over me and moved me to the core. By that fall, I’d signed up for my first photography workshop and was on my way. The message from the professor changed my entire life.   Susan’s Message:When on a retreat, the last day of it, I sat on my bed feeling sad to go home. Something told me to pray for a friend when I got back home. Within 24 hours of arriving home, someone asked me to invite the friend’s brother to a yoga class I was going to. From that day on, for 11 years until his death, we were together every single day, laughing and having fun.  Maken46's Message:  My boss told me I needed another dog so it wouldn’t be so hard on me when my dog, who was 20 years old, left us. A few weeks later, a person in the park saw our bichon and said she had a bichon needing a home. This new dog, Jack, was a perfect companion to our older dog and us. Thanks, Messenger!   Jo Ellen’s Message:I have gotten important messages through my dreams. Once I was dreaming that babies died under my care. After hearing my dream, someone asked me if those babies might be me. I was stunned. That was the beginning of my journey learning how to value and know myself, and therefore have the inner strength to support and contribute to others.Theresa’s Message:The unexpected source is me. I am a big proponent of dreams and dream analysis. For me, my dreams reflect my current emotional state and what is going on in my life. Not prophetic but present. Last night, I dreamt about ocean waves and writing a pop song that becomes popular. Calm, Empowerment. Power. Career transition.   David’s Message:  This message occurred in my late 30’s and turned things for me in a solid direction. I was broke but wanted very badly to drive three hours to visit a girlfriend. I went to a gas station to fill up, and my credit card was rejected. I sat in my car, dejected, deflated, hopeless.   I prayed to Spirit.   I got the “thought/question” in my mind, Would you like a dispensation?  I asked, What is a dispensation?   The “thought” came back, Do you want a dispensation? Would you like to drive to Charlottesville?   Of course, I said. Yes!   Go write a check for the gas.   I did. I spent the weekend with my girlfriend and somehow had no worries, even knowing I had no money in the bank to cover the check. Early Monday morning, a friend called who was doing roofing, asking if I’d help him for cash at the end of the day. That was a Wow! I tried throughout the day to call the bank but no answer, only to learn from my friend that it was a bank holiday. Wow! I deposited the cash at the night deposit to cover the check. All was well.   Bill’s Message: After law school I spent a number of years in relatively benign public service, then joined a small law firm located at 15th and M NW in Washington DC.  I wasn’t happy and one afternoon I felt a strong, almost overwhelming desire to leave the office and see a movie. At the time there was a cheap theater on Pennsylvania Avenue around 20th Street so I walked to it.  I didn’t recognize any of the offerings.  I opted for a movie I had never heard of, Meetings with Remarkable Men. When the movie was over, I spent close to 15 minutes in near total inner silence—a condition unknown to my normally racing brain.  There was a small brochure with a telephone number on it in the lobby of the theater.  A few weeks later—I called the number.  Someone contacted me and thus began my first adult spiritual training, several years in the Gurdjieff work.   Ellen’s message: I was a young mother with 2 school age children and a three-month-old baby.  Our family had recently moved to a new city, so I was putting our new life together, finding schools, a house and most importantly a cardiologist for my infant.  Katie was born with ventricular septal defect—a hole in the heart. The new cardiologist I found scheduled open heart surgery by her six-month checkup.  I was frozen with fear for my infant.  One day, I picked up my older children from school and drove to a nearby park which featured a ride on a dinosaur that the older children loved and feared. The dinosaur had become a welcome, familiar face in a new place. I put the baby in her car seat in the play area and began the game of chasing the older children and rocking the baby as I ran past.  I silently prayed, "Please, God, help me."  I screamed the prayer in my head as the children ran and laughed.  A thin, young boy came into the play space and joined our game as we ran and chased and laughed around the dinosaur.  My older children lost interest in the game and went to play on other equipment.  The young boy sat down with me and said, "You know, I have a hole in my heart, but I can do all the things that other kids do.  Sometimes, I get tired, but I can still play.  I have to go now, my Dad is waiting for me."  As quickly as he appeared, he was gone.  I sat on the park bench, stunned, crying with joy.  When my older children asked why I was crying. I answered, "The little boy came to tell me your sister is going to be alright." 

ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN ENDBelieve it or not, this is the last episode of MESSENGER. But don’t worry. The podcast will remain up and available, so you can catch up on any episodes you missed, re-listen to episodes, and share it with friends.  THIS ISN’T GOODBYE! If you’d like to keep up with MESSENGER news and with Liz Keller Whitehurst’s future projects drop us a line at: messengerthenovel@gmail.com. This information will only be used for these updates.  A NOTE FROM LIZ KELLER WHITEHURSTDear Reader/Listener:Thank you so much for listening to MESSENGER! We hope MESSENGER has brought you comfort, hope, perspective, motivation and inspiration. May each of you receive the message you need most! Thank you for your supportive notes, messages and, most of all, for sharing MESSENGER with your friends. MESSENGER: A NOVEL IN 16 EPISODES could not have happened without the creative collaboration of some very talented folks. Brandon O’Neill designed and created our artful logo, amazing podcast site and all of our outstanding social media posts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, often featuring evocative photos of NYC by Joy Whitehurst.Wells Hanley’s joyful, original theme music for each character and his superior sound editing skills stitched this production together in an amazing, coherent way. And Lance Koehler’s recording acumen made Wells’ job so much easier and everything sound so good. A very special thanks to Rachel Pater, our remarkable narrator, whose voice you heard each and every week and whose vocal virtuosity truly brought Messenger, Alana and all the other characters, to life. Rachel advised, consulted and collaborated with me on all aspects of this project from beginning to end and my gratitude to her knows no bounds.Thank you and great job, everybody! To contact any of the above, you can find their contact information under Credits/Contacts. Blessings!Liz Credits/ContactsAuthor: Liz Keller Whitehurst: messengerthenovel@gmail.comFor inquiries about MESSENGER or rights queries, contact April Eberhardt: april@aprileberhardt.comBook editor: Annie Tucker: annietucker@gmail.comPodcast design/social media: Brandon O’Neill: oneillcreativeco.comPhotography: Joy Whitehurst: Instagram: @turquoisekoiAudio production and voice artist: Rachel Pater: richmondstoryhouse.orgOriginal music and sound direction: Wells Hanley: wellshanley@gmail.comRecording and audio editing: Lance Koehler: minimumwagerecording.comSpecial thanks to Wilson, Joy, Audrey and April Find Us Online Website: messengerthenovel.comFacebook: facebook.com/messengerthenovelInstagram: instagram.com/messengerthenovelTwitter: twitter.com/messenger_novel Questions to PonderDid the ending surprise you? Did you see it coming? Go back to the beginning of the book and read the first entry in Messenger’s Composition Book which completes the circle. How has this entire process been an initiation?How do you think Alana will respond to Messenger’s last entry—her message to Alana?How has Alana changed through knowing Messenger? How has Messenger changed through knowing Alana? ---------------------------------Episode 16 Complete Text