I'm Dying

Hopefully not any time soon! But, as you know, I'm on this quest for Truth and that is one of the more unfortunate truths--I am going to die. And... so are you.

I think most of us do anything to NOT think about that fact. We distract ourselves with whatever works in a desperate attempt to avoid the inevitable truth--- we are all going to die. But the fact is, it's coming for us whether we are ready or not.

I believe we would be better off to just face it head on and quit pretending it's not going to happen. If we kept it before us (in a healthy way), it might just enrich our lives and give us the perspective we need to make the most of our time.

Many years ago, I was in a terrible car wreck. I was living in Bryan/College Station going to school at Texas A & M. I went with some friends to Austin and on the way home, we had a one car accident . The girl in the back seat, Lorena, died soon after. I didn't know her very well but she was a very kind, young woman. She had a love for God and others. She had just gotten engaged AND-- she had just entered her twenties.

As an ambulance (that just happened to be coming down the road) whisked us back to Austin, life became crystal clear. EVERYTHING was suddenly put into perspective for me. I knew at that moment what was really important and what was not. It didn't take long though for life to shroud that clarity. And, as I lost my perspective, I lost my way and became very depressed.

I was reeling from that tragedy as were many others. I could not figure out why it was her and not me? For months, I felt guilty that I was alive and she wasn't. I did everything I could to kill the pain.

It didn't work.

The only thing that really helped me during that time was, strangely enough, a dream I had. Like I said before I didn't know Lorena that well, but because I was in the wreck with her, she came to visit me one night in a dream. It was as real to me then as this blog is to me now.

She came back to tell me that she was FINE! She was glowing-- literally! She kept saying, "There is so much love here! I can't describe it!" She seemed to be in a place of such unimaginable love that apparently it was indescribable. She was very happy!

I was, too, after I woke up! I still remember the joy I felt after waking from that dream. I have never experienced anything like it again. Several other people she knew had a similar dream but we didn't realize that until later. Now how do you explain something like that?

I also knew of a man back then, who was very sick and he was in the hospital. He was "deathly" afraid of dying. And then his fear came true and he did die--but they were able to revive him. He returned a different man! He had an experience while he was dead that caused him to no longer be afraid of dying! He was very happy even though he was still in the hospital and still facing death! He was a changed man!

Now I realize that these experiences do not necessarily constitute TRUTH. There is no way I can prove that the dream was real or that the man really had a happy experience while he was dead. All I know for sure is, that I had a dream and it changed my perspective! It helped me to realize that life is a gift and I needed to quit wasting it feeling guilty. And it made me realize, too, that just possibly, death is a gift that we should not fear! It might just be a better place than we ever imagined. It might even be better than the life we know so well here!

We have all heard of those who died and were revived and they experienced something like this, too. Were they imagining it? Perhaps, but some were able to tell the doctors and nurses things they saw them doing and things they said as they hovered above their own body! I don't think that is imagination.

And there are a few I have heard of who died and did not have such a great experience. They went to a place of darkness and it was not a place they wanted to stay. That is not comforting but apparently a true experience for some.

Sometimes Truth comes to us through experience. Sometimes it comes as a revelation and sometimes it comes as a fact.

Death is a truth we know for a Fact. It is not our favorite fact but still looms over us, nevertheless. There is no way to escape it. Some may think that people created an afterlife to cushion the pain of death and the thought of losing someone we love forever. And let me assure you, it certainly does help since I have lost a good part of my family to death. I do believe I will see them again!

But I think there is evidence that supports that belief and it's not just wishful thinking.

It comes from those who have experienced it and have been able to come back and tell us about it. Think about it-- we are quick to believe people when they return from a trip and they see something amazing! We don't question their experience. So why do we do it when people return from death?

And if we believe the Bible is true, IT states that there is life after death. And there are other religions who also embrace an afterlife experience. I guess we won't know for sure until we get there. But I'm betting my life that there is "something" beyond what we know here. And I am believing it is called Heaven.

If you have not seen the movie, "The Lord of the Rings", I would strongly suggest you do. There are three different movies in the series and in the one called, "The Return of the King", there is a scene that explains death in such a beautiful way.

In the scene, there is an intense battle raging and one of the characters in the story, named Pippen (not sure if that is the right spelling), is lamenting that his death is near. The battle is not going well and the enemy is about to knock down the gate. Pippen is waiting for the inevitable outcome with his wise friend, Gandalf, who has been to death and back.

Pippen is looking at Gandalf and says, " I didn't think it would end this way."

Gandalf replies, "End? No... No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path. One that we all must take.... The gray rain curtain of this world rolls back and all turns to silver glass......Then you see it."

Gandalf pauses and has a far away look in his eyes. Pippen prods him to continue and hopes he is quick since the enemy has now breached their army's defense.

Gandalf continues: "White shores.... and beyond. A far green country under a swift sunrise."

Pippen smiles and says, "Well....that isn't so bad."

Gandalf smiles back: "No... No it isn't."

It's really more beautiful to hear than to read so I hope you will get a chance to see it. But more importantly, I hope you and I are ready for those shores when they come. And that we live our lives to the full in the meantime.

Any thoughts or comments? Please email Carol at carolrtexas2@aol.com