A new angel book may not be one for atheists or agnostics, but true believers undoubtedly will take it under their wings. Others who fall between those extremes might be intrigued by some of the stories: Everything from seemingly miraculous highway near-misses to the Four Freshmen finding their angel in Stan Kenton – or captivated by the ethereal art it contains.
Angela Taylor and Rob Jacobs, both San Fernando Valley residents and co-creators of Angels of Protection: True Angel Stories in the Modern Age understand that. As Jacobs wrote in an introductory essay, discussing the difference between the words fact and true:
“A fact is is a statement that can be proved...The word “true” has a slightly different connotation. It means a 'sincere, accurate rendering of an event.' Every story is told exactly how it happened. Can the stories be 'proven?' Dear reader, possibly not to you, but absolutely to the authors who experienced the related events.”
He adds that, “Our purpose is to present the angel experiences, the stories and art” and to respect that readers “will have their own experiences and feelings.” So the book is not meant to proselytize or to have a religious connotation. “We're simply putting the stories out there; people can take from them wheat they will,” explains Jacobs, a strong believer in what he calls “personal truth.”
Angels of Protection actually had its genesis in a series of paintings by Rob and a meeting he had with his old friend Angela, during which they discussed what each of them had been doing recently.
“Rob was working on a series of art, which he called “Angels of Protection. “ I was intrigued and moved by the experience Rob related to me, which had to do with his father, Harry, and how Harry’s life was saved,” Rob’s angel story, which is included in this book. “The artwork behind this extraordinary experience is Rob’s 'Angel 5 / Of My Father'.” That painting is just one of 14 Angel paintings by Jacobs reproduced in the book.
The story of Jacob's father is just one of 39 “true stories/ experiences,” as Jacobs and Taylor are careful to characterize them, written by people to whom they happened during the mid to late 20th century. Their themes, locations and details vary markedly, as do the writing skills of the individual contributors, but their combined impact is considerable.
Were coincidences involved, or some sort of higher power intervention? As Jacobs stated above, that is left for readers to decide.
The book would have benefited from better editing. Grammar is dodgy in a few places and some sentences are too convoluted. But the sincerity, faith and dedication of everyone involved in its making shines through on every page. If ever there was a labor of love, this is it.
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