Patricia S's NDE

EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTION:

            We are having a picnic at the river.  My cousin who is two days younger than me, waded out into the water.  We were both so young that as we waded towards a tree or twig raising out of the water, we tried to reach it to hold on too.  Neither of us were able to swim.  I don't know if it was she or me that went under first, but, all of a sudden I could see her fighting to get up.  I remember as I watch her kicking working so hard to reach the surface, I seemed to see myself watching from outside my body, and I just seemed to be slowly and gently going deeper. Next, I do not have a vivid recollection of time, but, it seemed that my whole little life circled before me like an old time movie.  In such detail, that even to this day I can remember the swirl of my life.  The next thing was that the wonderful unexplainable colors surrounding me was about the most beautiful thing or place I had ever seen.  Then this being was with me,  I don't think I knew if it was Jesus, God, an Angel or whom was with me, but, I do remember the overwhelming love and sense of well being.  I think the old joke of the life review, where I was so young that I had to ask for a "rerun"  however, even being 6 or 7 I was shown each and every word I had uttered at anyone, each thing I had done to hurt any person by word or deed was and still is embedded in my mind.  I also remember this wonderful being not being angry with me, but, I REMEMBER that I felt that I had somehow grieved Him.  That seems to be closest human word that I can come up with to describe what I felt, not condemned, but that I had grieved the wonderful.  I do not think we have human words to describe the colors or in indescribable feeling of being in His: presence.  Then I remember, and this doesn't seem as clear a memory, just that I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE, as I was yanked out of the water  It seemed to happed so fast, coming back.  All o a sudden I was on the back of a stranger who swam me back to shore.  It must have taken me awhile to realize what had happened, my Granny was so upset, I don't remember telling her anything, I think I couldn't have explained it if I wanted to. Recently, I finally shared what happened with my sister and cousin, the one that had been in the water with me.  I asked her if she had experienced anything likewise, she said not at all.  But, every detail is still and has always stayed in my mind, and I think always will.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? No       However, the feelings left me with no way to explain in earthly words.

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          Yes     Being so close to death from drowning.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    Feeling out o my body, & watching my cousin fighting, thinking "why" is she struggling so hard it seemed so beautiful.  Of course, my life review is very vivid, the wonderful of the water around me and the incredible sense that there are just no words for.  The overwhelming sense of love, to where nothing in the world could even come close to

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal every day consciousness and alertness?    More consciousness and alertness than normal

If your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience was different from your normal every day consciousness and alertness, please explain:            Feeling out o my body, & watching my cousin fighting, thinking "why" is she struggling so hard it seemed so beautiful.  Of course, my life review is very vivid, the wonderful of the water around me and the incredible sense that there are just no words for.  The overwhelming sense of love, to where nothing in the world could even come close to

Did your vision differ in any way from your normal, everyday vision (in any aspect, such as clarity, field of vision, colors, brightness, depth perception degree of solidness/transparency of objects, etc.)?  Yes     F few years ago I revisited that river in Oklahoma.  I just could not believe that this muddy, rocky ugly river was the same place such a wonderful thing could have happened to me.  The only way I can explain the colors, were that they were heavenly, meaning no earthly wording could explain the beauty and feeling. The water was soft wonderful  pastel, blended, bright. and perfect, but, I certainly can't tell what color on a chart they would be.  The being was I guess more of a knowledge of His presence rather than form, no verbal sound, but, total understanding.  So many years later as I looked at that muddy ugly water, I just could NOT believe it was the right place.

Did your hearing differ in any way from your normal, everyday hearing (in any aspect, such as clarity, ability to recognize source of sound, pitch, loudness, etc.)?
            Yes     We did certainly not have a conversation in words, but, it seemed not to be needed.  I just seemed to understand what the wonderful being was imparting to me with such love and mercy.  It just seemed to cover me.

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     Yes

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Again as I seemed to just be floating downward in the water, looking at my cousin  struggling.  I thought, why is she fighting so hard.  I could also see my body just going down with no fear at all.  I didn't even thing of struggling, I can't remember thinking at all, just enjoying that feelings that had wrapped themselves around me.  I felt no fear, and I did not want to leave this presence.

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?          Uncertain      That is the only thing that I am uncertain of,  it seemed so fast, someplace in my mind I kind of remember a light, but, it seemed so quickly that my life started reeling in front of me, and FAST, FAST, FAST!  That is when the "being" seemed to be there with me..

Did you see a light?           Yes     I certainly saw light, but, don't know if it was like at the end of  a tunnel, Just the presence of unbelievable colors, strength and safety encompassed me.  And the personage of a being that was the most beautiful sights so hard to put into words.

Did you meet or see any other beings?           Yes     Sometimes I try to remember, but, I think it was just one incredible being. After I saw my short little life so vivid in front of me, I felt as I said before, no angry, no condemnation, but, somehow, I felt that

""he" grieved at my wrong doing.  I know that this did happen it is still so very clear to me, many years later when I became  Christian, I understood why and what it meant. I am still yet  learning things from that event, for which I am so very grateful.  1.  AFTER MY LIFE REVIEW, AND FEELING THE SADNESS FROM THIS WONDERFUL BEING, i.e. AFTER GIVING MY HEART TO JESUS, AND READING THE WORD OF GOD IT BECAME CLEAR TO ME THE "PSALM 103:12 "AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST, SO FAR HAS HE REMOVED  OUR  TRANSGRESSIONS FROM US.  "vs 16, AND THE WIND PASSES OVER IT, AND IT'S GONE, AND IT'S PLACE REMEMBERS IT NO MORE."  I learned that each day it is vital for me to go to the Lord confessing my faults asking for His forgiveness, BECAUSE I WANT THAT WONDERFUL BEING NEVER TO LOOK UPON MY TRANSGRESSIONS AGAIN.  GOD PROMISES TO FORGET THEM FOREVER ONCE THAT CONFESSION IS MADE. Not that my slate will be as pure as I would want it to be, after seeing the pureness of our God, I know I will probably let pass sins know or unknown.  It's just that I want as much as possible for my soul to be pure before Him the next time I come into His presence.

Did you experience a review of past events in your life?    Yes     Please remember I was only 6/7 years old, maybe even younger, but, it was as real as if I had lived a life time full of sin.  As I have previously stated, the feeling that I grieved this heavenly person with the things I had done wrong in my life.  As such a  young child I don't think the effect impacted on me too much, but, I never forgot the feeling, & years later after becoming a Christian, So many feelings and things that were imparted to me came back.

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          Yes     Only after I became a believer and read the word of God, was the beginning of understanding.

Did you see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels or dimensions?            Yes     The beauty surrounding me and encompassing my whole life and being was certainly not the dirty muddy river that I was yanked back into.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Yes     I could not begin to know how much time, it seemed like a very long time, for I seemed to have seen and been privileged with such a beautiful time & place, I know I did not want to come back.

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?     No      

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Uncertain      It is one of the things that I do not totally recall.

Did you become aware of future events?       No           

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience?     Uncertain      Somewhere in my mind I know God walks with me in a special way.  Earlier in my life before becoming a Christian I believed I had psychic abilities/  However, now as a Christian, I still believe God has special talents and gifts that he has bestowed upon me. But, it would take me a whole book to explain the unbelievable life of blessing and tragedy I have lived, I would like the chance to explore this aspect more. Saying my life has been a soap opera is just the beginning. Huh!!  Maybe I should write a book..

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     at least forty years.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?    No            Being so young, I am certain that I had never every heard for many years until maybe the 70's about this happening to anyone else.

How did you view the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:            Experience was definitely real    Since I was a very little girl, I don't think I shared or even remember much about the days shortly after this thing happened.  My granny was just glad we were alive, and said we could never go near the river again.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?            The unspeakable love that I felt and never wanted to be apart from.  I still ask the Lord why I was spared that day.  But. the things that I do remember are just as real today as the day it happened.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:            Experience was definitely real            Even though it was many, many years ago, the reality of that day under the awful dirty water, is still as vivid as if it happened yesterday...

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?           Yes     I have an unshakeable faith in life beyond, and full belief in scripture "to be absence from the body, is to be present with the Lord"  I also fully believe that we all answer for our lives, and am thankful for additional time to find time for the kindness and love that is more important than all the money in the world.

Have your religious beliefs/practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?            Yes     My Grandmother had always taken us to church.  However, we were so very young that I cannot speak to this question, but, my whole life I have been drawn to Jesus from somewhere deep inside.  It may be their are moments and things that I cannot remember during that wonderful encounter...

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         Yes     Many, many things, but nothing to do with medications or substances if I am reading you question correctly,  again, It would take a book to share events in my life that have been out of my control, and somehow I have survived.  I wish I could share with someone someday.           

Did the questions asked and information you provided so far accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?         Yes     for the most part,  I think because I was very young, that some of the questions were hard for me to answer, however, I know what happened that day at the river and how close I was to being dying....