Thoughts of Faith, Death and my mom.

Today is the 40^th day since my mother’s passing. As a man who observes the traditions and dogma of his faith, I ask you to remember my mother this day in prayer. 

In Eastern Orthodoxy we believe the soul does not go into a “sleep” and that the “death” we experience is not a loss of existence. I like the Church’s concept that our soul was not meant to die and it exists eternally.  I especially feel comforted by The Catechetical Sermon of St. John Chrysostom that is read during Matins of Pasch, and the concept that what you believe about heaven doesn't really matter today.

“ . . . If any have wrought from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward. If any have come at the third hour, let him with thankfulness keep the feast. If any have arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; because he shall in nowise be deprived thereof. If any have delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near, fearing nothing. If any have tarried even until the eleventh hour, let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness; for the Lord, who is jealous of his honor, will accept the last even as the first; he gives rest unto him who comes at the eleventh hour, even as unto him who has wrought from the first hour . . .”

Since my mother’s passing, a very strange and cascading sequence of “coincidences” have taken place. They are very personal, but give me peace and ease and the confidence and joy to celebrate, not mourn my mother. As many who share my faith, I believe after death that our soul embarks on a journey. As much as the elders and scholars can agree, and because the Source Power of the Universe is a mystery indescribable and impossible for mortals to truly understand, I accept that our soul enters the afterlife at a place determined by our initial judgement, and that we begin a journey (determined to be 40 days – but most agree that is symbolic because time is probably not a meaningful gauge in the perfect place). Then, we are judged again in what will determine where our soul will reside for eternity.

Amongst the “coincidences” since the death of my mother's body was the gift of Dr. Eben Alexander’s “Proof of Heaven” given to me by a friend.  The accomplished neurosurgeon, seeing himself as a scientist, had no need for the concept of God and heaven. Yet, after his near death experience (NDE), he tells of entering the afterlife in a place of roots and murk. Indeed, he is the person described by St. John Chrysostom as one who arrives at the “Eleventh hour”. He tells a story of amazing light and music. His journey took him through strata of angel-like entities toward the light to what he experienced as Heaven.   

Dr. Alexander tells that he was able to pass further toward the light than any of the other NDE experiences he later studied. He believes this is because during his experience, he had no connections or memories of his earthly life (in his study of other NDEs, this made him somewhat unique).  The message he left with me was that we must let go of all earthly things, all the stuff we had and did, and any worry for our families and friends, in order to make the most complete journey. I gleaned that he was explaining why prayer for the departed is valuable and important.  I believe this parallels the dogma of my Church.

The near death experience which Dr. Alexander tells of in his book goes very much hand-in-hand with, and explains to my satisfaction why the ideas of the faith held by people like Oprah, Esther Hicks, Lynn Grabhorn seem to work to manifest what we need here on earth. There is a Force. We are loved and cherished, we have nothing to fear. There is nothing we can do that is wrong. The most hopeful message for me is that we are all connected because we are all part of this Force.When all the parts of this Force connect, and vibrate together with a common intention, miracles take place.

When we make our petitions with critical mass, God responds. Dr. Alexander's "visit" to Heaven helps, at least for me, to better understand the concept of the two judgements that the dogma of Orthodoxy anticipates for each of our souls. So here on this 40^th day, I hope you will join me in offering Psalm 91 to help guide my mother, Ruth Malm, closer to the light and a well-deserved rest nearer to the most perfect Heaven.

You Who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, Who abides in the shadow of the Omnipotent, I say [to you] of the Lord Who is my refuge and my stronghold, my God in Whom I trust, that He will save you from the ensnaring trap, from the destructive pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions and you will find refuge under His wings; His truth is a shield and an armor.

You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
the pestilence that prowls in the darkness, nor the destruction that ravages at noon.
A thousand may fall at your [left] side, and ten thousand at your right, but it shall not reach you. You need only look with your eyes, and you will see the retribution of the wicked.
 
Because you [have said,] "The Lord is my shelter," and you have made the Most High your haven, no evil will befall you, no plague will come near your tent. For He will instruct His angels in your behalf, to guard you in all your ways. They will carry you in their hands, lest you hurt your foot on a rock. You will tread upon the lion and the viper; you will trample upon the young lion and the serpent.

Because he desires Me, I will deliver him; I will fortify him for he knows My Name.
When he calls on Me, I will answer him; I am with him in distress, I will deliver him and honor him. I will satisfy him with long life, and show him My deliverance.