They said I was not going to be unconscious ...yet, I would not remember anything.

I did not experience any of those things people have said or write about ...nor that movies have been made about.  

I did not get carried away on the wings of a butterfly, accompanied by a beautiful maiden.

I prayed, and this vision of beauty ...

...was in the waiting room, with His love casting a Light upon one whom I was hoping to see in the next few moments.

I thought of years ago, what I read and heard about World War II.  How my parents met after the war.  The album filled with their graduation photos, and later wedding pictures.

And I thought of those many years, while I was growing up ... 

Through the various stages of my life ...wondering what was in store for me.

God intended for me to experience another dimension of love.

So many memories, like the one along the beach of Lake Michigan.

Thinking of our five children, and not wanting to be denied seeing them again in this lifetime.

Yes, I know they all believe ...and we would unite someday, and be together for eternity, but I felt I'd be of more use here on earth while they are also here.

This was my prayer.

And those who've said that they have died and seen a light, come back from the dead, been in or have seen a vision of Heaven ...what message do they have for us??

Lazarus said, "I pray thee therefore, that thou would send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment."

Abraham saith unto him, "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them."

And he said, "Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent."

And he said unto him, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."

It seems that Lazarus, (not the same Lazarus that Jesus brought back from the dead) had concern for those in his family that he loved.  Seems that he had a lot of love for his family.  Yet, it appears that ignorance was not bliss.

I would say that we all should have love for our family, with a concern that we have just read about.  Yet, that love goes beyond us ...and we should see that it's not about our love, but rather the love of Jesus.  And we should want others outside our family also not to be ignorant of it.

So, why do people get so embittered when someone attempts to share this loving concern with them??

Yes, why???

Could it be that there is a very persuasive influence attempting to keep this truth from our minds??

And from our hearts??

Consider the Name of Jesus ...and then carefully and prayerfully explore beyond just the Name, to the Person.  

And when I say carefully, I mean, to be careful not to explore areas of faith that may contain half-truths, or perhaps non-truths that are presented as real.  

Stick to the Word of God ...the Bible, as the authority.  

God desired for us to know Him ...and we can read of those many ways we can know Him, in the Bible.

And that fact brings the comfort that we can share with others, and hold dear with those we hold near.