By Joy Le Page Smith, MA, BCC

About two decades ago, I met James[1]. He was one of my first patients in hospice. After talking a few moments, he said, “I haven’t been in church for many years. But, I was a Sunday school kid. Every Sunday, until I was a teenager, I was happy to go to church. Then there just wasn’t a lot of thoughts going on about God.”

Mostly our conversations were around his picturesque recounts of fishing as those trips were obviously the highlight of his life. I did enjoy hearing the stories but mostly savored how, at the very ending days of his life—with an IV in his arm—he was finding solace in those memories. Not at any point within my two home-hospice visits did James talk about his illness or dying.

This was a bit concerning. I had been trained to believe doctors always prepared a patient for entering hospice, telling them medical treatment would stop as it no longer held any promise for saving one’s life. Hospice teams are experts at treating pain and fostering the highest level of comfort possible. Still, while with James, what seemed the right thing to do, was to just be there for him, letting him know I was enjoying what he was sharing. I could hear the “rivers roar,” in places . . . yet, also envision his fly fishing in the calmer, peaceful waters. He was that good with these stories.

Before my next scheduled visit to James’ house, I got a call from his hospice nurse. She said, “James was hospitalized. We don’t expect him to live beyond 48 to 72 hours.”

Arriving at his hospital room, I figured James would want to talk about this part of his journey. But, no. After rousing a bit to speak, he said, “Let me tell you about the next fishing trip I’m going to make!”

Again, I found listening was the only thing to do. Upon leaving, I did have some difficult feelings, telling myself, “The doctor has failed to tell this man the truth—he is dying!”

Early the next day I got a call from his ‘wife, Sally. She said James had passed, then told me of their last moments, “I was sitting by his bedside while holding his hand. We were telling one another how much we love each other. Then James pulled his hand out of mine. I reached for it. But, James pulled it back. Suddenly he lifted both of his hands toward the ceiling and with a wide, wide smile, said with verve, ‘I’m going home!’”

While officiating at his memorial service I shared this exceedingly touching story with those who were present. What evidence lay before us that James had an exceptional moment of being “beaconed in,” and that he immediately realized what “being home” can truly mean.

Children who go to Sunday School usually learn what it takes to have their names written in God’s Book of Life. It might have been Daniel 12:1 that James’ teacher had shared in class, “Everyone who is found written in the book—will be rescued.”

James’ story makes me think of the Scripture in Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

For James, the seeds of truth about eternal life were planted in his soul at an early age, in Sunday School and perhaps by his parents. God gave him a long and enjoyable life—then, “beamed” him up.

A child may forget a prayer uttered long ago, but it is certain that God does not forget.  James’ “remembering” may have begun, long before I arrived at his door, to sit a spell, and offer “a prayer.” He no doubt felt care and concern. Maybe the most precious gift we can give to one another is listening to each other’s stories, truly hearing what is said.

Humans have an inner voice (or feeling) that prompts us—guides us toward right behavior and away from bad behavior. Abundant trouble comes when a person ”sears” her or his conscience, by completely ignoring it, living only to promote one’s self. This hardens the conscience and results in our lying to ourselves, saying, “It’s OK to do it my way.”

James’ story is one of many indicating that people do at times, gain upfront evidence of what is ahead for believers after their time on earth, then to remain yet a while, knowing “heaven is for real.”

[1] Names are changed to protect identify.

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“My near death experience” came be read (on left side of on my homepage).

Who has ever lived without this question arising from one’s consciousness from time to time? This little story titled, “Twins in the womb” by an anonymous author that prompts further thought.

One day a mother conceived twins.

One child was a girl; the other a boy.

Months passed, and they developed

As they grew they sang for joy:

“Isn’t it great to be alive!”

Together they explored their mother’s womb.

When they found their mother’s life cord,

They shouted for joy:

“How great is our mother’s love,

That she shares her life with us!”

Soon the twins began to change drastically.

Noticing the changes, the boy asked,

“What does this mean?”

“It means our life in the womb

Is coming to an end,” said the girl

“But I don’t want to leave the womb,”

I want to stay here forever.”

“We have no choice” said the girl

“But maybe there is life after birth.”

“How can there be?” asked the boy.

“We will shed our mother’s cord,

And how is life possible without it?

Besides, there’s evidence in the womb

that others were here before us,

and none of them ever came back

to tell us that there is life after birth.

No. this is the end.”

And, so the boy fell into despair, saying,

“If life in the womb ends in death,

What’s its purpose? What’s its meaning?

Maybe we don’t even have a mother.

Maybe we made her up just to feel good.”

“But we must have a mother,” said the girl.

“How else did we get here?

How else do we stay alive?”

And so the last days in the womb

Were filled with deep questioning and fear.

Finally, the moment of birth arrived.

When the twins opened their eyes,

They cried for joy!

What they saw exceeded their wildest dreams.

Within the womb, it was all about hanging in there, receiving all that was provided. The ambience was one of exclusive trust. There was nothing to do but trust! After birth the pace escalates exceedingly! Our minds developed and we grew in full stature, becoming complete little persons—even before seeing the light of day.

Coming into the world through the birthing process we take on various capacities of responsibility. The thing we can do rather easily (for the most part) is to procreate. And, how wonderful this gift is! It is astounding and wondrous to perpetuate life on earth! Having our own children brings great joy . . . along with plenty of continuous challenges.

Mostly, all of us look for ways to be resourceful, earning our way in life. But, like the twins in the womb, we don’t really know what’s up ahead. But God does. Just as life after birth exceeded the dreams of the twins, so life after death will super-exceed any dreams we have ever had!

”That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him,” (1 Corinthians 2:9, New Living Translation).

By Joy Le Page Smith, MA, BCC

Visit my homepage, which offers multiple “helps” for people who hurt: www.healinglifespain.com