John and Doves,
 
This was a very touching story indeed. The part where he says 'I saw a beautiful man’s hand, and his wrist and part of a white, loose sleeve' reminded me of a dream/vision I had as a young boy of about 4, 5, 6 or 7.
 
We lived in England on a farm in a big farmhouse which had been divided into two to allow two families to live there. The other half was occupied by the farm foreman and his wife and two boys Timothy and David. We were great friends and went on adventures all around the place. We would visit for meals etc and at the table the father would say 'grace'. The mother was a Protestant lady from Northern Ireland and very attractive.
 
My bedroom had a dormer window and overlooked their grassed courtyard. I remember having this vivid vision - a quite old (to me) man was in my bedroom and looking out of this dormer window. He was wearing a white sort of cloak but I could see only down to his elbow. He had shoulder-length golden white hair lit up by the golden streams of sunlight coming through the window. There was an overwhelming feeling of complete peace. Unforgettable! But I did forget for a long time.
 
Later on we moved house to another farm and then again and again but all the time my mother kept in touch with her friendly neighbour. Eventually I moved to Australia but returned to England on visits from time to time. On one occasion I was able to take my mother to see this lady, now well on in years, and inform her that I had become a Christian. How good is God? Had they prayed for us (me?). "Dear Lord, please bless this food", the words I had never forgotten. The vision I had forgotten and then remembered. How many twists and turns had my life taken in all those years since which included seven years in the Royal Navy with two tours of duty to the Far East including a visit to Brisbane and another to Perth? Perth, where I would eventually return and later on give my heart to the Lord.
 
Who was the man in the vision? I don't know but I have only experienced this same type of peace a few years ago when visiting the village in the Philippines where my wife lived. Perfect peace and love. Like Heaven. I said I wanted to stay there forever.
 
Even so, come Lord Jesus!
 
Blessings,
 
Phil.