Phantom Words: A Stroke Victim's Loss Leads to an Amazing Gain

At that point clots bulging in my left ventricle raced toward my brain and the more anxious I became as my heart rate climbed the more each beat cleared the clots from my arm. Thats when my world darkened and my mind escaped my body. I saw my physical being from a few feet above standing with a friend. Im right here I thought in awe but Im also right over there. I was staring at the shell of myself but I couldnt approach it. I had no physical feeling as you would with a body. This is it I thought strangely growing peaceful among the chaos that moments earlier had racked my brain. I no longer have to wonder how Ill die. I fully knew I was dying and I wasnt shocked. A clear understanding that I teetered between life and death enveloped me. From behind a warm blanket of serenity overwhelmed my senses and a powerful feeling to fall back and surrender to the tranquility engulfed me. Its OK its beautiful the serenity beckoned. Just lay down. But an overwhelming urge - knowing with all of my heart that God needed me on earth for a rebirth and a life of His service - kept me from that final peaceful surrender. I rushed back to my body where noise and babbling suddenly drowned the perfect peace of moments earlier. Like many scientists before this life-changing stroke to be certain of something I needed hard data. Evidence. Proof. Something I could measure. Heaven can be an abstract concept for sure. Before the stroke I wanted to touch Heaven feel it for proof of its existence. In a sense I got what I asked for. Ted Odom