When we die

[Kay Thompson Fields]

So does anyone else wonder what really happens when we die? Death is one of those subjects like politics, sexuality,and religion it is best not to bring up in light, frivolous, cocktail conversation. After reading Todd Burpo"s book Heave is for Real a while back I couldn't help but laugh. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of enjoying this book I will give a brief overview.. Todd Burpo was a minister..His son was 5 and suffered a "death-like" experience.. During this event he saw things and reported them back to his father that a child his age could not possibly have known or fabricated..What I found  so amusing was his take on parts of the Book of Revelations.. What if Revelations was literally true as  he suggests? What if all those weird creatures with eyes all over and other interesting monster like beings are ACTUALLY and LITERALLY true and not symbols or metaphors.. All our religious interpretation and posturing is meaningless in this child's experience and adventure..Of course that would be way way too simple and all the religious scholars, theologians, and other charlatans would be out of a job..My personal belief that has morphed into a strong conviction is that Death is opening a door and walking into another room.. No big Whoop.. Now the Mormons spend lots of time doing genealogical research so they can go back eons and find long lost kin in order to somehow baptize them so they qualify for The Mormon bus in Heaven.. I once asked a Mormon friend what if I did not like some of my long lost deceased kin and was uninterested in qualifying them for The Pearly Gates.. She laughed and replied,"Everyone says that" Whatever that might mean.. Then of course, I believe there is another door that BAD people find and open..This is not of great interest to me..I also believe totally C.S. Lewis's great great line.."The gates of Hell are locked from the inside" I have a hard time imagining a person so stubborn and prideful that in the END they are unwilling and unable to submit their will to God.."Heaven is for Real is a great sweet thought provoking read.. Happy Tuesday

[Marti Dickey Ashby]

Interesting post, Kay. I've read other books about near-death experiences and have found them quite fascinating. Some people experience absolutely nothing ... a void. Others have amazing, awe-inspiring adventures. I've heard explanations both scientific and spiritual for all experiences of this sort.

The bottom line is, for me, I don't know what happens. And I don't believe anyone does, no matter what they say. I suppose I'm one of those "unless it happens to me" people. And I'm OK with that.

Case in point, sort of: I went to a lecture on dreams from an African's perspective. I was so excited to hear this lecture by an indigenous person from Africa. This white man came to the podium (yes, I was disappointed). He said he had been trained by a tribal shaman. I don't disbelieve that. But then he spoke from the pedantic, all-knowing mindset about life after death, about evil and goblins, witches, and even fairies. He lost me; however, my daughter and I were in the middle of a full auditorium and could not easily extricate ourselves. I've been taught that you don't walk out of someone's presentation. Of course, if we had been in the very back, yeah, I would have sneaked out.

Another bottom line, if you will, is that I have hope, lots and lots of hope, that we will NOT cease to exist. I used to "know" all kinds of stuff. Not any more. 

I respect the lecturer's right to believe whatever he wants to believe. It doesn't hurt me or anyone else that I know of. In fact, it seemed benign as I didn't have a sense of patriarchy or hurtful actions to humans or animals. Although, let me qualify here, I did not appreciate his patriarchal-like "knowing" that this is "true." I am so through with gurus and patriarchs. Teachers, yes, please. But those guys better not tell me this is what I must believe or hell awaits me. Wait. I don't believe in hell either.