Introduction and Question on Spiritual experiences

[VLParker]

Hello, I am VL Parker author of To Hell & Back A Test of Faith. I am curious of how many of you have had vivid spiritual experiences and I was wondering if you would like to share them? I was also wondering what were some of the best books you have read on this topic, both fiction and nonfiction? What was your favorite and why?

Thank you for your time,
VLP

[globab]

well not sure if this is what you are looking for. however...... i recently lost my dad. march 20th he passed away..
my sister was in cuba at that time, and i was at home... dad passed away around 8 pm... about 7:45 ish, i had this uncontrolable sadness come over me, and i started to cry, while sitting in living room with my husband, i didnt know why i was sad , so i got myself under control and tried to stop crying, as the phone rang, it was another sister telling me hospital had called and we must go in, and that we probably wont make it ....
therefore that evening while speaking to my sister in cuba, she said something strange happened to me while we were eating, she said i got this uncontrolable sadness come over me around 7:45 ish, and started to cry at supper, well her husband made a slight joke saying gee i guess you are not enjoying this meal too much, and they left and went to their room, while she sobbed for the evening , then we phoned her to tell her of the news of dads passing....
I read of people having things happen, but it had never happened to me... then along comes my little bird....

the day after my dads funeral i sat on the couch alone, just trying to figure it all out... a bird hit into the window... and hung around on my window cil for the rest of the day, then it turned into days, then weeks..... i had this one bird that would come and peck at my window daily... moved to another window, then to another, depending on what room i was in... the bird pecked at my window daily until the day of my birthday (may 23) so for two months i enjoyed this bird, as it gave me comfort.. i felt it was my dad simply saying to me, I am ok... let me go now...

i have read two books.. heaven is for real, and the boy who came back from heaven... non fictions...... i enjoyed them both..

is your book fiction? or non?

[VLParker]

Thank you for responding. I am sorry you lost your father in this world and I am confident you will see him again. Death is one of the most difficult parts of life, but I believe it is not the end, but a new beginning. I greatly appreciate your willingness to share.
I had a similar experience the night my grandfather died. I had a dream of him riding on the plains on a horse in traditional white native dress with a long stick in his hand. My grandfather left the reserve so his children would not have to go to residential school any longer. When he moved into town he forfeited his status and his right to become chief, his brother took on the role. I was happy to see him regain a part of his identity in the next world.
My brother and I also had the identical dream the night my father died. He died of cancer. In the dream he was alive and healthy again. These are dreams, but in my culture dreams and visions have significance and I have been privy to both.
I pray you and your sisters have a full and wonderful life in this world, until you see him on the other side.
Thank you,
VL

[TanehaCurry]

I too do believe in messages in dreams by lost loved ones and about having a unexplained feeling of a close person to you in need or passing.I woke up in my dream in my bed and my aunt, who I am said to be a copy of in looks and personality all my life, come into my dreams as a child and apologize for that she wouldn't be able to make it back to Aus for my b'day but happy b'day she was looking at these dolls she'd sent me from the countries she'd been to on my boo shelf, it was so real.

I also believe my grandmother inlaw,who was also one of the best friends I've ever had, knew the day she was going to passed for she called everyone of her kids, grandkids and all other close family that day and passed that afternoon.

[VLParker]

Thanks you for sharing Taneha, Have you ever read any books on this topic? My grandfather's twin brother appeared to my aunt as well. It was very real as well.
VL

-- 18 Jul 2012, 19:47 --

Oh I am sorry I forgot to add, globab, my novel is fiction. May I ask what the title and author of the two books you read were? Thanks

[globab]

heaven is for real is by todd burpo (boys father i am pretty sure)
the boy who came back from heaven is Kevin Malarkey and his six-year-old son, Alex...

these are not authors.... they simply wrote these books due to their kids experiences with heaven..

[globab]

while on vacation , i picked up another one, called to heaven and back, written by a doctor that had a kiack accident, and had a near death experience, and then the book continues about her purpose on earth, i guess i like to read these books since i recently lost my dad, and i am interested in knowing what it might have been for him to go to heaven...

-- 30 Jul 2012, 07:26 --

while on vacation , i picked up another one, called to heaven and back, written by a doctor that had a kiack accident, and had a near death experience, and then the book continues about her purpose on earth, i guess i like to read these books since i recently lost my dad, and i am interested in knowing what it might have been for him to go to heaven...

[Ant]

Hello and welcome
In answer to your question, no, never in my 51 years can I recall a vivid spiritual experience, I don't know if it has anything to do with my total lack of faith or if I am emotionally cold, though my children would disagree with me being cold. With the years passing, times of sadness and bereavement are more common, but I feel nothing spiritually to help me during sad times and therefore have and always will believe that when you're gone you're gone and the only possible link that you can have remaining is the legacy of your children. Believe me, there have been many times when I have envied people who can have some kind of spiritual link and I am not mocking anyone who has experienced such thing, it's just that I feel nothing spiritually or religiously so there must be a link.
Regards
Tony

[VLParker]

Thank you Tony,

My spouse has never had any spiritual encounters either and I have had many throughout my life. I do not think you are cold, but he too is in complete control of his emotions. He is level and a practical rationalist. I am empathetic and an emotional creature by nature, so perhaps it is not just a measure of faith that affects our encounters with the spiritual realm, but our brain chemistry itself. I wonder if there are any rational thinkers out there who have had spiritual experiences; it would be an interesting study.
Thank you,
VL

[GenThomas]

Th closest thing I can think of is I had a dream the night my great uncle died of being at a funeral, but I did not know who it was for. I was next to my great aunt and she was crying. It was in a church with pillars on the altar. My brother had a very similar dream and the church was also like that of my dream. When I awoke I was crying and then I went and told my mother. She told me I was to skip school becuase my great uncle had died.
Is that the kind of thing you mean? I honestly feel somewhat silly when I retell the story, but it really did happen.

-- 01 Aug 2012, 10:15 --

Also, I'm Gen. Nice to meet you

[VLParker]

Thank you Gen,
It is nice to meet you too. I appreciate you sharing this. It is comforting that your brother shared the same dream. I believe it is a mesage from the spiritual realm, reaching out to us letting us know Death is the next step in the journey.
VL

[GenThomas]

Yeah I read post 3... What is your cultural background?

[VLParker]

I am among the First Nations from the Sagamok Anishwabek Band of Objiway and Irish Canadian. Both cultures are very spiritual.

[GenThomas]

Thank you, that's very interesting. It's nice that you were raised to embrace and foster spirituality.

[tonya10057]

Hello and welcome,I hope you enjoy it here.