Remembering our true
spiritual natures is a prerequisite for
enjoying this earth-walk and fulfilling our
soul's missions.
Evidence from
near-death experiences (NDE) provides the
most convincing and well-documented proof
that we really are timeless beings of energy
who are just visiting this planet for a
while.
One fascinating aspect
of NDE evidence is the empathetic or shared
near-death experience. In these cases,
loved ones or health care providers
themselves have other-worldly experiences
when someone passes on.
I experienced this
phenomenon firsthand many years ago while
working in hospitals. I was usually
assigned to the emergency room and intensive
care units where I assisted during many
resuscitations.
In those days, dying
patients seldom received conscious attention
to their emotional and spiritual needs. So
while working with critically ill patients,
I spoke directly into their ears, reassured
them that everything possible was being
done, and encouraged them to trust God.
On several occasions, I
saw a faint white light emanate from the
patient's chest region just before the time
of physical death was announced. Looking
back, it seems that my empathy for those in
transition may have
enabled these sixth sense experiences that I
revere to this day.
In "Fire in the Soul",
Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., co-founder of
Harvard's Mind-Body programs, relates a
beautiful empathetic
NDE that occurred at
the moment of her mother's passing. Her
mother had long been cynical about and
critical of Joan's
spiritual work.
Joan and her son
Justin were present as her mom passed over.
At that moment, the room was filled with
light and both realized what Justin
verbalized: "I feel like Grandma is holding
the door to eternity open to give us a
glimpse. Can you feel it?You must be so
grateful to your mother. You know, she was
a very great soul. And she embodied to take
a role that was much smaller than the wisdom
in her soul and she did it as a gift for you
so that you'd have something to resist
against."
Why are such reports
surfacing more now? There is a greater
societal openness to these topics,
especially among baby-boomers, whose parents
are aging and dying. Hospital visitation
policies have changed and more family
members are present during the death of
loved ones and thus can potentially
experience empathetic NDEs. Finally,
improvements in pain medications now allow
dying persons to enjoy more clarity just
before crossing over.
In "The Last Laugh,"
Raymond Moody, M.D., Ph.D., discusses
reports of empathetic NDEs: "Dozens upon
dozens of first-rate individuals have
related to me that, as a loved one died,
they themselves lifted out of their own
bodies and accompanied their dying loved
ones upward toward a beautiful and loving
light.
"Others have said
that, as they sat with their dying loved
ones, they perceived deceased relatives
coming to greet the one who was passing
away. . . Lots of doctors and nurses have
described to me how they perceived patients'
spirits leaving their bodies at the point of
death."
