A
                                  Prelude to a Miracle
                                  
                                  I was looking forward to this morning, as I
                                  had planned a hunting trip on the ninety-eight
                                  acre farm, bordering the Chattahoochee River,
                                  my family and I lived on. I arrived home and
                                  gathered my gear trying to get as early a
                                  start as I could. My wife had already left for
                                  work as most people do who have normal working
                                  hours. I usually called her when I was going
                                  hunting but being in a hurry on this
                                  particular morning I didn't.
                                  
I
                                  had about a two mile hike to my tree stand and
                                  arrived there around 10:15 a.m. My stand was
                                  about 20 feet high on the front side facing a
                                  thick patch of pines. The back side faced the
                                  river below and dropped off to huge boulders
                                  in the river below. I tied off my rifle to be
                                  pulled up after my climb to the top and began
                                  my upward ascent. I reached the top and
                                  positioned myself to pull my rifle up. Then
                                  without warning I heard a snap. I would later
                                  return to this site many times to reflect on
                                  my life. On one visit with a friend I measured
                                  the distance from the top of the stand down to
                                  the boulder I landed on - eighty feet!
                                  
                                  As I began my fall to the river below I could
                                  see the river coming up fast. I knew this was
                                  the end for me and though it was just seconds
                                  before impact, it was as though I was in slow
                                  motion.
                                  
So
                                  many thoughts raced through my mind. My wife,
                                  my daughter, my family, and no one knows where
                                  I am! Would I ever be found?
                                  
                                  Then, darkness. How long this darkness lasted
                                  I don't know. Then something wonderful
                                  happened. I felt myself leaving my body. I was
                                  floating a few feet in the air above the
                                  river. I looked on my body with mixed feelings.
                                  I was bleeding from my mouth, nose, ears, and
                                  saw a trickle of blood underneath me on the
                                  boulder. As I was reflecting on the state of
                                  my body, I felt a pulling and began to rise
                                  very fast. I was traveling at a high rate of
                                  speed upwards through the atmosphere.
                                  
 
                                  
                                  
                                  
                                  As I left the atmosphere, I looked back and
                                  could see the earth! Such a beautiful sight!
                                  It was so brilliantly lit. As I looked ahead I
                                  could see the planets.
                                  
 I thought to myself this cannot be! Where is
                                  Jesus? I was never told anything like this
                                  could or would happen when I died. Faster, and
                                  faster the speed was increasing. I saw other
                                  star systems and galaxies as I raced onward. I
                                  entered what seemed to be a hole of some sort.
                                  It was long and dark. However around me I saw
                                  streaks of light made up of every color in the
                                  spectrum. I saw a faint light growing brighter
                                  and brighter in the distance up ahead. As I
                                  entered the light I felt it all through my
                                  being. I was not afraid anymore.
                                  I thought to myself this cannot be! Where is
                                  Jesus? I was never told anything like this
                                  could or would happen when I died. Faster, and
                                  faster the speed was increasing. I saw other
                                  star systems and galaxies as I raced onward. I
                                  entered what seemed to be a hole of some sort.
                                  It was long and dark. However around me I saw
                                  streaks of light made up of every color in the
                                  spectrum. I saw a faint light growing brighter
                                  and brighter in the distance up ahead. As I
                                  entered the light I felt it all through my
                                  being. I was not afraid anymore.
                                  
                                  Then all of a sudden I was standing before a
                                  massive set of steps. They led up to what
                                  seemed to be a bridge or walk of some kind. In
                                  the distance I saw a sight so magnificent and
                                  astounding - a city made up of what seemed to
                                  be glass or crystal!
                                  
                                  
                                  A
                                  Miracle is Foretold
                                  
                                  The lights were of many colors that radiated
                                  from it. Never have I ever seen such a sight.
                                  I began walking toward the city in a daze of
                                  unbelief.
                                  
                                  So many questions raced through my mind. I had
                                  to know where I was. What was happening to me?
                                  I
                                  reached the front of the city and saw a double
                                  door that looked to be about thirty feet or so
                                  in height and width. It shined as if it was
                                  polished. As I stood there wondering, the
                                  doors began to open. I took a step back and
                                  looked inside. I could see what appeared to be
                                  people walking about on the inside, much like
                                  they do in a mall here on earth. These people
                                  though were dressed very different. For one
                                  thing, they all seemed to be dressed in some
                                  sort of robes with hoods. I entered through
                                  the doors in amazement at what I was seeing.
                                  The inside was massive. It seemed to be square
                                  in shape, with a balcony all around that led
                                  down to different levels. I walked up and
                                  looked downward over the balcony. It seemed to
                                  go on forever!
                                  
                                  As I looked up I saw many passing by me, yet
                                  no one seemed to notice me. Then as one was
                                  approaching me he suddenly stopped. 
                                  
 
                                  
 He slowly
                                  raised his head and I could see his face. He
                                  appeared to be human in every respect but one.
                                  His eyes. No pupils! Yet they seemed to change
                                  colors in colors of blue. His hair was snow
                                  white. I wanted to speak but before I could he
                                  turned and pointed to a long hallway. Though
                                  we never spoke I knew I was to go down this
                                  hallway. Then as if nothing had ever happened,
                                  he continued on. I knew I had to as well.
                                  
                                  Something was beckoning me forward. I walked a
                                  long walk down to the end of this hallway. I
                                  did not turn to the right or the left. I knew
                                  somehow that my questions were about to be
                                  answered. Again I saw before me a massive
                                  double door. It seemed to be of some type of
                                  metal - whether gold or not I could not tell.
                                  
                                  Suddenly the doors opened. I heard a voice,
                                  though not as we speak, but from inside of me
                                  it seemed to say, "Enter." I did as
                                  I was told and the doors shut suddenly behind
                                  me. I was afraid for the first time. Total
                                  darkness. Total silence.
                                  
                                  Then after a space of time the length of which
                                  I could not determine, a bright light began to
                                  glow in the room. Brighter and brighter it
                                  became! It was somewhat above me and in front
                                  of me. I tried to look but was almost blinded
                                  from it! I held my hands up in front of me and
                                  could make out the appearance of a figure
                                  setting on some type of seat.
                                  
                                  Then without warning it happened.
                                  

                                  
                                  "What have you done with your life?"
                                  The voice penetrated my very being. I had no
                                  answer.
                                  
                                  Then to my right I saw what seemed to be like
                                  a movie, and I was in it. I saw my mother
                                  giving me birth, my childhood and friends. I
                                  saw everything from my youth up. I saw
                                  everything I had ever done before my eyes!
                                  
                                  As my life played out before my very eyes I
                                  tried to think of good things I had done. I
                                  was raised in church and had been very active
                                  in church functions, yet as I pondered on this,
                                  I saw a man in his car that had ran out of
                                  gas.
                                  
                                  I had stopped and given him a lift to a local
                                  store about a year ago. I had bought him some
                                  gas as he had no money and helped him get on
                                  his way. I thought to my self, why am I seeing
                                  this? The voice was loud and clear.
                                  
                                  "You took no thought to help this soul
                                  and asked nothing in return. These actions are
                                  the essence of good."
                                  
                                  I saw all the people I had hurt as well and
                                  was shown how my actions had set in motion the
                                  actions of others. I was stunned! I had never
                                  thought of my life having an effect on the
                                  actions that friends, family, and others I had
                                  met would take. I saw the results of all I had
                                  done. I was not pleased at all.
                                  
                                  I looked on until the events came to an end.
                                  Indeed I had done so little with my life. I
                                  had been selfish and cruel in so many ways. I
                                  was truly sorry I had done so little. Then
                                  again loud and clear I heard the voice speak
                                  again, "You must return."
                                  
                                  I did not want to return though. I was content
                                  to stay and longed to stay even after the
                                  things I had seen and heard.
                                  
I
                                  have so many questions," I replied,
                                  "things I need to know and don't
                                  understand."
                                  
You
                                  must return and help others to change by
                                  changing your life. Physicians will want to
                                  perform surgery on you. Do not let this happen.
                                  If you do you will never walk again. You will
                                  be visited by one who will bring you answers
                                  to the questions you have. When I call you
                                  will come again. You will recover from all
                                  that has happened if you do these things. Look
                                  and see what lies ahead.
                                  
                                  
                                  I turned and saw the earth in turmoil. Wars
                                  and death. Terrible sights. Cities fell and
                                  new ones were built. I saw the United States
                                  and a volcano exploding covering many cities
                                  in darkness.
                                  
 
                                  
I looked on and saw the collapse
                                  of our government as we know it. People
                                  killing for food and water. Horrible sights. I
                                  saw what seemed to be a giant explosion in the
                                  earth's atmosphere and much land was destroyed. I
                                  looked on and saw a new type of people,
                                  younger and of a peaceful nature. The cities
                                  were few that were left, but these people
                                  seemed to be content.
                                  
                                  "It is time for you to go," I heard
                                  again. But I wanted to see more!
                                  
                                  Then the doors opened and I felt myself almost
                                  being carried down the hallway. I passed
                                  through the doors of the city and felt myself
                                  shooting through this hole I had came through.
                                  Faster I went, unable to stop.
                                  
                                  I entered the atmosphere of earth and saw the
                                  river below. I saw my body still lying there
                                  motionless.
                                  
Then
                                  it was like an electric shock so tremendous I
                                  felt my body jump. I opened my eyes and saw
                                  the trees above and the skyline. Then, Oh God,
                                  the pain! I was struggling for every breath,
                                  choking on my own blood.
                                  
                                  The
                                  Miracle That Happened
                                  
                                  I managed to roll onto my stomach. The pain
                                  was all I could bare. I looked at the sky and
                                  saw the sun was lower than I remembered. I
                                  looked at my watch. It was 5:30. My only
                                  thoughts were how I could get help. I
                                  noticed my rifle was not far from me, still
                                  attached to the rope I had tied around my
                                  waist. I began pulling it toward me. I
                                  managed to grab hold of the barrel and pulled
                                  it up to me. I fired a shot about every
                                  ten minutes hoping someone would come.
                                  
                                  It was getting late and I knew I would not
                                  make it much longer, so I began crawling on my
                                  stomach, pulling myself with the stock of my
                                  rifle. I managed to crawl up a trail that ran
                                  down to the river. As I crawled and
                                  crawled, the pain was so great I passed out
                                  many times. Through thick brush and briar
                                  patches I crawled. I wanted to give up I was
                                  so tired and in so much pain. I knew though I
                                  had to make it at least to where I could be
                                  found - I hoped.
                                  
                                  I looked out in front of me and saw the road I
                                  lived on through the trees. I could hear
                                  sounds in the distance!
                                  
                                  "Yes, thank you God," I thought to
                                  myself!
                                  
                                  I finally found myself at the road and began a
                                  feeble cry for help. I was too exhausted
                                  though and just lay there in the road.
                                  
                                  My father-in-law was returning from work and
                                  found me lying in the road.
                                  
 
                                  
in
                                  the physical invisible range of sight  -
                                  the astralbody which is driven out - soars
                                  above the damaged body, observing the
                                  scenery.....
                                  
                                  
                                  "It's all right," I heard him say.
                                  "Help is on the way."
                                  
                                  That was the last I remembered until I saw the
                                  lights inside the ER. A doctor stood at my
                                  feet.
                                  
                                  "Can you feel this?" he said.
                                  
                                  "Feel what?" I asked. He had
                                  been sticking my feet and legs. I was
                                  paralyzed!
                                  
                                  "We can not help you here son," he
                                  said. "We are sending you by ambulance to
                                  a hospital that can handle your injuries."
                                  
                                  Whether from the pain or medication, I was out
                                  like a light.
                                  
                                  The next afternoon I awoke to find two doctors
                                  standing at the foot of my hospital bed. They
                                  introduced themselves as my attending
                                  physicians and proceeded to explain to me I
                                  must undergo surgery at once. The bones in my
                                  back that were broken were putting pressure on
                                  my spinal nerve causing paralysis. Then I
                                  heard the warning I had heard before.
                                  
                                  
                                  "Do not let them perform surgery, or you
                                  will never walk again."
                                  
                                  
                                  I understood completely, but I knew they would
                                  not. I told them I must see my wife and
                                  daughter first.
                                  
My
                                  wife arrived with my daughter shortly after
                                  the doctors' visit. I told her what they had
                                  said. She advised me that I must realize they
                                  were doing what was necessary to help me. I
                                  did not know how to tell her what I had
                                  experienced. I tried to tell her it was my
                                  belief that I should not be operated on.
                                  Although she disagreed, she honored my wishes.
                                  
                                  When the doctors returned and I told them of
                                  my decision, they were very upset. I listened
                                  to lecture after lecture.
                                  
                                  "OK," one of them said, "if you
                                  never want to walk again that's up to you."
                                  Then they left.
                                  
                                  That night I lay upon my bed and wept sorely.
                                  Was I insane? What was I doing?
                                  
                                  A light began to fill my room.
                                  
"You
                                  will be well," I heard a voice say. Then
                                  it was gone. I composed myself and dosed off
                                  to sleep.
                                  
                                  Days turned into weeks, weeks into months.
                                  
                                  Then one morning I felt a tingling in my feet!
                                  I was overcome with joy! I told the nurse I
                                  wanted to get up and walk. She stared at me
                                  and said, "We'll see, we'll see." I
                                  knew I was healed without a doubt. The nurse
                                  put a call in to my doctor and the next
                                  morning he stopped by."
                                  
                                  "So you think you can walk?" he said.
                                  
                                  "Yes," I replied.
                                  
                                  "Well, we will see."
                                  
                                  A few hours later I was taken down to the
                                  physical therapy room. They carried me down
                                  and raised me up to a vertical position. The
                                  nurse helped me in front of a set of parallel
                                  bars. I gripped the bars and placed my feet
                                  firmly on the floor. One step. Two steps.
                                  
                                  "My God, he's walking!" the nurse
                                  said to the nurse who had brought me down.
                                  
The
                                  next few days were hard. I took many trips to
                                  physical therapy, and had numerous x-rays done
                                  per my doctors' orders. My wife and family
                                  were all amazed, yet I knew. I had been told!
                                  The rest had to be true as well.
                                  
                                  My doctor was more amazed when he found no
                                  bones pressing on my spinal nerve. I use his
                                  quote:
                                  
"This
                                  is not normal. It seems a Higher Power has
                                  done for you what we were going to try and
                                  correct with surgery. I have never seen
                                  anything like this before." End quote.
                                  
                                  Since that day, my life has changed and I have
                                  been able to help others in ways I never
                                  dreamed. I wanted to share this with all, as
                                  it is what has led me onward in my quest for
                                  truth.