The soldiers first Christmas... It has been many years since Longginuse was in front of this cross, the last time he was here, he proclaimed " Surely, this was the son of GOD" He said this, after seing the way in which Jesus died years ago. Earlier today while riding through the streets of Jerusalem, he noticed the strangest thing... the poorest of people, where giving gifts to one another and he overheard them speaking Jesus's name while doing this. Puzzelled by this he rides along deep in thought, nearing the edge of the city it begins to snow again, this too strikes him as unusual, as it's been snowing on and off, all day and he can't recall the last time he's seen snow. As he rides through the falling snow, he notices how white and beautiful everything is, and his thoughts turn to Jesus, reigning in his horse, he stops, turning his head he looks in the direction of the cross. Speaking softly to his horse, they head in that direction. As evening settles in and the cold falling snow hits his face, he nears the cross, stopping he dismounts and slowly aproaches the cross, standing in front of it, he experiences strange tingling sensation throughout his body and begins to quietly sob. Dropping to his knees he begs for forgiveness.... "Longginuse" the voice in his head says, opening his eyes now, he looks up to the cross... once again he hears that gentle voice, from somewhere inside, "Longginuse I forgive you" and then, wave after wave of emotion floods over him and he cries out "My Lord and my God I surrender to you and offer all that I am to serve you" . Kneeling there in front of the cross, he feels a peace and quietness in his soul that he's never felt before... smiling contentedly, he stays there, long into the night. Sitting on the ground with his back against the cross, he heres that same quiet voice. "Longginuse long before you were born I chose you... and that day you last stood in front of me, your new journey began, and this day you are reborn, now get up and follow me, your new life has begun!" Rising, he walks to his horse, sitting on his horse now, he turns his gaze back to the cross and then bends over and once again, whispers to his horse, slowly they walk away... he turns his head back to the cross, unable to see it now, he smiles, because he knows that he will never forget it. With a soldiers determination he sets his eyes forward as he rides into the night, he smiles as he remembers... "Your new life has begun".... Sorry bout the long story, my imagination has gotten the better of me. Thank You all for indulging me Tom