Prayer tale still relevant today

As Dulac native Christopher Billiot navigated Morgan City’s waterways in the wee hours of the morning in the summer of 2001, Heaven spoke to him.

The result – his first book, “And Heaven Stood Silent,” a story about the power of prayer and God’s grace.

“The story just came to me,” the inshore/offshore vessel captain said. “I scribbled a few notes and then put it on the back burner.”

It was about a year later when Billiot, 45, met a truck driver who also served as a pastor in the Baton Rouge area. The two shared stories – Billiot, who is of Native American decent, is actively involved in ministry work at Grand Caillou Baptist Church.

The Baton Rouge truck-driving minister also moonlighted as a radio host. He mentioned he was always looking for new topics. Billiot thought of his story idea.

“I mentioned to him that I had a story that the Lord had given me,” Billiot said. “I said, ‘It’s an inspirational and patriotic story that causes the heart to swell with pride or the eyes to welt with tears, or maybe even both.’

“My story stopped him. Then I realized that it could have a positive impact on other people,” he added.

Without representation, Billiot set out to self-publish his book.

Five years later, “And Heaven Stood Silent” remains an inspiration to those who read it, the author said.

“America needs this,” Billiot said. “It’s a divine providence.”

The tale begins on a cold December night. The main character, a young man – he goes unnamed in the story because he could be anyone of us, the author said – finds himself unable to sleep. He rises from his bed and looks out his bedroom window. Below, he sees a cottage – the silhouette of two small children visible through the window.

The youngsters are kneeling in prayer.

At the same moment, the protagonist black out only to awake in heaven.

“Just the pure innocence of the children praying was overwhelming for the character,” Billiot explained. “He didn’t have to know what they were praying for. But the simple fact that they took time to pray was a godsend within itself.”

In heaven, as the man sleeps, he witnesses the day the Creator’s son and His army return to Earth to battle with sinners.

“For that one night, Heaven stood silent and the fate of mankind was about to be sealed,” Billiot explained. “The thought is, ‘In whose favor would the balance between sin and Christianity be?’ The man in the book discovers who really holds the key to the fate of mankind.”

Billiot believes that readers put themselves in the man’s place and are able to envision what the protagonist is seeing.

“There is so much turmoil or distractions that can come into our lives at any time to where we are constantly struggling with right or wrong,” he said. “But if we have our faith and we are committed to prayer, we can salvage our lives and remain in Christ’s embrace.”

“And Heaven Stood Silent” is a story for those suffering with turmoil – of which Billiot has had his share.

“There were things that tested my faith, but I felt as long as I had God in my life I would be all right,” he said. “I want to pass on to the generations that come after me that prayer is important. There’s nothing a little prayer can’t change.

“God sent Christ in to the world as an example of how we should conduct ourselves,” Billiot said. “One of his teachings is the power of prayer. The Bible said, ‘We have not because we ask not.'”

Billiot’s book first hit local shelves in 2004. It is available at LA Cajun Stuff in Southland Mall, Bent Page’s bookstore on Barrow Street in Houma and online at www.xulonpress.com and www.authorhouse.com.

Dulac native Chris Billiot, author of “And Heaven Stood Silent,” said America is at a standstill, in need of inspiration. * Photo by MICHAEL DAVIS