At the Edge of Tomorrow, Notes from a Wandering Soul

By L Lee Devocelle

Today our world stands "at the edge of tomorrow". A crossroads with two distinct paths: Fear and chaos or heart and compassion. The ultimate choice belongs to us and only us. This is not a how-to book. It is a “what-if” book. Each story presented was born in the author’s imagination and speaks to our humanness and our abundant potential to heal ourselves and our world. If they inspire new thoughts and possibilities, take them and create your own stories. To be truly at peace, each of us must find our own eyes, gather our own thoughts and speak with our own voice.

• Language: English
• Publisher: L Lee Devocelle
• Release date: May 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215008614

L Lee Devocelle

I believe in the common man and woman and look to them for our common future. I am a philosopher and an author. I am also a mother and grandmother. I spent twenty years in the fields of print and electronic media. That being said, my story is far from simple. I have held at least 15 different jobs and lived in too many places to count. In the mid 80s I traveled to Hamburg and Geneva to collect video footage in pursuit of the now defunct Super Conducting Super Collider. In 2002 I was off to Okinawa, Japan, in pursuit of radon gas on military bases. I have worked in both the public and private sectors and have come to respect all who labor to make our world work. I was born in the Illinois heartland when its wheels were oiled by factories, farmers and coal miners. In my middle years I moved to Colorado--a long-cherished dream from my childhood. I now live in Indiana near my family, children and grandchildren. I began writing seriously in 1979 and have never stopped. I have completed several novels, short stories and poems. In 2016, at a colleague's suggestion, I set my mind to eBook publishing through Smashwords distributors. I look forward to the next chapter of my life's journey!

Book preview

At the edge of Tomorrow

notes from a wandering soul

L Lee Devocelle

Other Books©

by L Lee Devocelle

Future World Book Series©

Moon Shine

The King Who Had No War and Posh Kutar

The Salt People

Finding Stars

One Hundred Pieces of Money

At the edge of Tomorrow, notes from a wandering soul

an Explorers²¹ Book

Copyright © 2023 by L Lee Devocelle

Visit the Author at:

www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Explorers21

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, including Internet usage, without written permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places or events used in this book are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, alive or deceased, events or locales is completely coincidental.

If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase a copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

eBook formatting by Maureen Cutajar

www.gopublished.com

Gratitude

First and foremost, to my family and its many wonderful parts; and to all those beyond my home village who supported me in so many ways over so many years.

To Smashwords, for providing the platform and pathway to publish; and to Maureen Cutajar, for her consummate technical skill and patient kindness.

Success is not a singular pursuit. It is the result of every human encounter in our lives. Without each of these happenings no story could be told, no future imagined and no blessing received.

My gratitude is profound.

Table of Contents

Prologue

1 River of Energy

2 Boxes

3 Conversations with . . . Part 1

4 The Man in the Long Black Coat

5 Conversations with . . . Part 2

Prologue

Today our world stands at the edge of tomorrow. A singular event in Earth’s history that impacts every, single human being.

The book you are about to read may be unlike any you have read before. Each piece stands alone—although you will recognize common themes.

This is not a how-to book. It is a what-if book. Each story presented here was born in the author’s imagination and speaks to our humanness and our abundant potential to heal ourselves and our world. If they inspire new thoughts and possibilities, take them and create your own stories. To be truly at peace, each of us must find our own eyes, gather our own thoughts and speak with our own voice.

Penned this 25th day of April, 2023

L Lee Devocelle

1

In the beginning, an ancient book commences;

In the beginning, a noted scientist ponders:

In the beginning, a small child reads.

In the beginning!

We all speak of beginnings:

New beginnings,

New chances,

New vistas;

New, where all is possible.

And so this book begins—

At the beginning,

From whence all else evolved—

In these stories and conversations,

In our lives,

And in our world.

River of Energy

The following is a brief history of our planet as seen through my eyes. I invite you to travel along with me.

Seek the great beyond

So that you may swim in the

Great unknown

1

In the Beginning there was nothingness. Within this nothingness an Energy flowed.

And it was infinite possibility and intelligence.

Being of a creative nature, this Energy was never idle. New ideas were its constant companions.

And of late, one held fast its mind and imagination: Filling the void with energy that took up space.

For the Energy took up no space. Had no form. Experienced no emotion.

It knew what it had always known. And until this moment, it had been complete.

2

Of this Energy were energetic beings of the same composition. To these the Energy turned for advice.

What do you think of my idea? It asked.

The beings responded with curiosity, of course, but not surprise. For questions and ideas flowed freely within the Energy. And all were given equal consideration.

As you might imagine, much discussion ensued.

In time—eternal time—all agreed that energy as Form would be a most worthy endeavor.

In turn, the energetic beings proposed that they be a part of this extraordinary endeavor. A special part.

This too was agreed upon.

It would be called Soul.

Free Will would accompany this energetic expression. And it would never be recalled.

As it was in the eternal, so it would be among the Formed.

3

Thus Spoken, Nothingness became Something.

That which lived in anonymity, revealed itself.

And the Finite was born.

But, as there were neither ears to hear nor eyes to see, the energetic beings stood alone in their Awe. And they were both pleased and surprised.

Firsts always invoke wonderment. Even in the eternal!

4

In due course, galaxies appeared.

Universes appeared.

The stars and moon appeared.

And the Earth appeared.

Warmed by a great, fiery sun; cocooned within a life-supporting atmosphere; and held fast by gravity.

Neither to rise nor to fall—but to expand and evolve.

Trees and ground shrubs bowed to breezes and gales. Flowers bloomed to the dance of seasons they could not name.

And creatures great and small lived with each other. Supported each other. Nourished each other. All in preparation for that yet to come.

A living creature so unlike its creator, that even in the eternal an aura of mystery attended its arrival.

5

For this new creature would feel, and it would express its feelings. It would see and hear and smell and taste and touch. And it would set its own destiny and gather its own consequences.

As promised, it would have a Soul. Its link to the eternal. A parallel traveler of both the earth and the heavens. A constant friend from birth to death.

Thus endowed, this new being would think and plan. Alter and preserve. Learn and teach. Holding fast with one hand, while reaching outward with the other.

In time, it would name its beating heart and capable mind, Life —and its progeny, Human. And its home would be a great Earth that flourished with flora and fauna in endless variety.

The Energy had provided well. It was more than enough.

But a partnership would be required. As partners, they would thrive.

6

These humans—these men and women—would multiply and people the earth.

They would explore the land and the seas. The mountains and the Poles. The forests and the plains. And the skies above. And, most wondrous of all, they would feel all that could be felt.

A singular experience still spoken of among the energetic beings. For the Energy had always known what could be known.

But feelings, it exclaimed, are not ‘knowings!’ And it was overwhelmed and withdrew into itself.

For to feel, is to stop thinking. To let go. To abandon the ordered mind. To float above and beyond that which is rational and predictable.

In the mean, humans continued to evolve. And the Energy continued to feel and respond to those feelings.

And the unseen intertwined with the seen. Until the unseen became a Presence. A Mystery that lived in the ether. And it was both revered and feared.

All was lain down before it and all was asked of