By Steve Hammons
As Easter Sunday 2013 approaches, it seems like a good time
to explore theories, beliefs and personal accounts of the afterlife and Heaven.
The book “Proof of Heaven” by neurosurgeon Eben Alexander, M.D.,
is one of the most recent reports about near-death experiences (NDEs).
Alexander was previously an atheist who relied on medical and conventional
scientific explanations about the human brain, body, life and death.
Alexander experienced an acute brain infection and was in a
coma when he had an experience that changed his view about human consciousness
and a larger consciousness in the Universe. He now believes that there is an
afterlife and it is beautiful.
Alexander has been reported as saying, “It is the most
comforting thing beyond any kind of comfort and joy and bliss you could ever
feel in this world.”
Since his experience, Alexander has explored the vast
literature on near-death experiences and now realizes that he took the same
journey as millions of other human beings, though his experience was also apparently quite unique. He has also looked into other
research efforts about these kinds of topics, such as those at the Monroe
Institute in Faber, Virginia.
MERGING HEAVEN AND EARTH
If we believe that people like Alexander, children as well as
adults, have experienced a larger consciousness deep within our souls, and
visited others who have passed on, it surely must resonate with many of us. And
the contrast between that reality and some of the very difficult situations on
Earth seems particularly important.
People like Alexander and the youngster Colton Burpo have put
their experiences in recently-published books that have been immensely popular.
Young Colton’s NDE was described in the book “Heaven is For Real,” written by
his father, Todd Burpo.
Respected researchers like Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, M.D., and Raymond
Moody, M.D., Ph.D., have long been known for their thorough and credible
explorations and analysis of NDEs and what they seem to indicate.
Other credible groups and organizations such as the
International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS) have also tackled the
crucial questions involved.
Researchers like these have helped educate millions of people
around the world about the apparent reality of another dimension. Apart from
enhancing the spiritual faith of many people, NDE research and education have
introduced millions of others with more secular viewpoints to the evidence
about Heaven.
TIPPING POINT
Over the centuries, there have been predictions by many
indicating that a day will come when our troubled Earth and the dimension we
call Heaven will merge in a significant way. What might that look like? How
would it play out?
Are we getting close to that emerging development? And, are
there things we can all do to help that miracle take place?
The distance between our everyday reality and what
neurosurgeon Alexander described as “the most comforting thing beyond any kind
of comfort and joy and bliss you could ever feel in this world” may not
be as vast as we might think. In fact, Heaven may be close at hand. Sometimes
that distance is described as nothing more than a "veil,” a very light curtain
or membrane.
Are there angels and our other loved ones and ancestors
nearby? Are they working toward a miracle to help transform this troubled Earth
of ours into a better place? It is comforting for many people to feel this way
and to hope for such a positive change.
Between the efforts and goodness of many people in our world,
and the plans and activities in the place we call Heaven, maybe we can
achieve the breakthrough that many people hope and pray for. And again we might
wonder how such a change would occur. Will human consciousness just gradually
evolve or might there be some type of event that gets us past the goal line?
What better time than Easter to think about the ideas of the
afterlife and the higher Force, God, Great Spirit or whatever name we give to
the Creator. It’s a time of forgiveness, family love, healing, mutual community
support and transcending the problems of the everyday world.
Easter of 2013 could bring us closer to a tipping point, a
paradigm shift, a new day when the old world is transformed – maybe a little,
maybe a lot. Joy and peace could expand significantly.
And every tear will be washed away.
