by AllanS » September 30th, 2005, 9:36 pm
From the eulogy at my Uncle's funeral. (He nearly died in his mid 40's, and finally died, aged 83.)
::Eleven months later Dad collapsed with severe headaches, was rushed to hospital and diagnosed with a brain haemorrhage. The prognosis was very poor – only a 20% chance of survival and a high probability that if he did survive, he would be severely brain damaged.
Dad’s memory of these events is captured in his own words.
“I lost my ability to speak, to think, to remember who I was or where I was.... I was still at death’s door for quite a long time.
During this long time when I was lying on my bed, I had a vision of people around my bed watching over me. I had the distinct impression that I was not to open my eyes. I didn’t. I could sense movement around me. I have no idea how long this went on and then I felt it was OK to open my eyes. Angels (?) were moving back out of my area of vision. Then a figure appeared quietly and came and inspected me. He was a tall, well-built man about six feet tall. He had long, light brown hair, wore a white robe (garment) with a golden belt about five inches wide around his waist. I did not see his eyes or his footwear as they were covered by the bed. In the quietness, words came to me – not spoken, not written, just put in my mind – “The Great and Glorious Holy Spirit”. He was real. I could have reached out and touched him. Who was He? Jesus? The Angel Gabriel? I don’t know. Many times I have asked the Lord but He has never told me. It is probably no concern of mine.
About this time my wife Claire had an experience too – she was sitting in our lounge, praying, and the words came to her that I was going to get well again. She believed and tried to tell the doctors but they had a sympathetic, non-believing attitude.
I did get well but it took a couple of years and I was still left with a couple of “thorns in the flesh”. There is so much more I could say but this I know – Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.”
