theroseofdiane

[theroseofdiane]

A Story of La Lechuza: A Demon in the Night

The clock strikes two. Two in the morning, that is. I lay nuzzled up against the glowing screen accompanying me in my bed. Oh, the love I feel! Not for the electronic, but the voice that emits from it. Some 900 miles away, a man who I adore yet have never met speaks to me through the speakers of my cellular device. This is another one of our nightly chats before falling into slumber, comforted by the connection revolution has provided us through our phones. Tonight our discussion took a turn from our routine teasing towards eeriness. Somehow, it evades me now, we began talking of mythical nonsense that instilled fear in me that evening. He told me the Texan tale of the La Lechuza, an owl with the face of a witch. I won’t enlighten you on its contents. Needless to say, after a quick Google search, I was quite frightened. The superstitious soul that I am, it took me a bit to calm down. I kept feverishly glancing out the window as the night progressed, and my Texan lover and I continued to converse. Then, I heard a loud noise. 

“Elario!” I cried, “The driveway alarm went off.” Laughter from the other end.

“Calm down.” He tells me, without any soothing words to back up his instruction. Agitated, I decide to stand watch at the window to see if any vehicle traversed up the hill into my line of sight. 

Reader, let me explain. I live on the border of Indiana and Ohio, where the valleys rise the highest. The hill I am situated on entails poor cell service, lack of neighbors, and much wilderness on all sides. A loud “Beep!” typically announces the sound of a vehicle beginning the trek up our long, windy driveway. After talk of demons at nearly three in the morning, and a stranger encroaching on my sleeping family; I was panicked. As I stood at the window still, no headlights shone through the wood. No sound of engine broke the silence--just Elario’s faint voice asking of my whereabouts. “Hold on!” I would say to him, lingering at the window. With a sigh and shake of the head towards my ludicrousness, I crept back into my now cold blankets and curled around the warmth of my phone. After ridding my thoughts of demons and murderers, I listened to the calming tones of Elario’s breath and soon fell into slumber. 

The next night, I was again on the phone with Elario, the boy I love yet have never met. Call me naive, reader, I don’t mind. But tell me, what is the harm of enjoying the virtual company of this stranger? I see none, besides the implications of sharing personal information, which I say in that case, beware! Well, tonight as we chatted, the La Lechuza was brought up once more. Yet, this time I wasn’t nearly as afraid. I mentioned that I am superstitious, but I forgot to add that I am also of the faith. Some prayers entailed last evenings terrors, and I called on the help of God to get me through the night. This evening Elario and I are discussing the trials of our day, and suddenly it has gotten very late in the evening once again. I lay there, musing over my love, when suddenly an unfamiliar noise pierces the air. I listen, just to be sure I heard right.

“Hoot, hoot.” 

I furrowed my brows, straining my neck to lift an ear. 

“Hoot, hoot.”

I could hardly believe what I heard! Was this she, the evil Lechuza, right outside my window? I had never heard the hoot of an owl in the flesh before this moment!

“Elario!” I exclaimed, “I hear the hoot of an owl just outside.” Yet again, he laughs. 

“No way,” he responds, and listens for himself. Sure enough, the hooting continues. 

Yet this time, it seemed as if God prevailed. I felt no fear, simply wonder. I had experienced spiritual warfare in my life, but never now had it presented itself so plainly. Here, now, the devil was preying on me and my child-like fears. So blatantly was he seen, so clearly could I discern the cause, and now he became a laughing stock between the two of us. 

“I cannot believe this!” I laughed, and fell asleep soon after, untroubled.

The next night, Elario and I were, of course, conversing on the phone. I prepared for bed, and told Eli to quiet himself as to not wake my sleeping family while I made my way upstairs towards my room. I settled into bed, getting into a comfortable position to spend the next few hours being kept awake by Elario and his teasing. Yet the moment I looked towards the screen, a big black box appeared. It was embossed, “CALL FAILED”. Confused, I attempted to call him once more. And again. Then one more time... but to no avail. I checked my internet, and my connection was stagnant. How odd was this! As soon as I nestled into my bed, the call gave out and my cellular connection dissipated. Oh, the tribulations of relying on electronics! However, the allegoric personage that I am, I knew this could be of no coincidence. I assumed such could only be the interference of God, and accepted it as such. That night Elario and I did not stay on the phone, and I communicated via text that things should continue on that way. Crestfallen and agitated, he sent me a series of conflicting texts voicing his emotions, which I soon silenced in order to fall asleep. Yet sleep did not come. I tossed and turned restlessly in my bed, seeking every angle I could lay to invoke sleep--but to no avail. Soon, the inklings of paranoia began seeping in. The feeling of being watched--I felt as if spirits were traversing outside my house, trying to find a spiritual door that could grant them access. But there was one spirit I felt who had already infiltrated. I felt as if something paced outside my very door, a creature waiting to be granted entry by a barrier that anxiety would soon destroy. I imagined a lion waiting to come and feed on my carcass, which, mind you--is often how the devil is depicted. Rallying my wits, I crept out of bed to use the restroom. And there, sitting on the toilet, I looked up to the heavens and began to pray.

“Heavenly Father,” I said, in a mere whisper, “please be with me tonight...” And from there I began forming every kind of defense I could think. Giant warring angels, a wall of thorns surrounding my property (which, had been soaked with the blood of the lamb), and none other but the Holy Spirit’s protection in my room. As I said all of this, I shook violently. As to why I trembled so, I knew not. But once I finished my prayer, the shaking ceased. Peace overcame me. Suddenly, all was still. I sensed no lion traversing my halls. I felt no lingering eyes peering through the window, no demonic whisper startling the air. I crept back into bed, and was soon able to sleep with ease.

The next morning I awoke to a series of texts from Elario. First anger, then want. Then, he informed me that the broken connection was not because it was God’s will, but because it was the plot of the devil to separate two God-loving individuals. I pondered the thought, and believed it must be true. Why would God bring us into each others lives, two people some 900 miles away, only to separate us by severing a phone call? We continued our nightly calls since, and still do.

Reader, this experience I endured may seem silly, and perhaps it is. I must admit, my fears are often irrational. But this is a mere example of the plots of the devil.  I recently established my faith with God, and prior to this monumental change in my life, he would terrify me daily, and without mercy. He used to plague my life, and now he tries to scare me with owls and mythical tales since he knows no other way to attack me. He preys now on any moment of weakness he can use to his advantage. But this is simply to remind you, reader, that he is always watching and looking for a moment of infirmity. Do not be like I, and become unreasonably fearful. Spiritual warfare exists; trust in God. 

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