Do you remember a part of the lyrics to "Old Man River" that goes: "tired of living but 'feared of dyin"? Well, I remember being puzzled and terrified about dying and wondering what life was all about if we were doomed only to death. As I grew older it was no longer a great concern, but still a puzzlement..that is, until I understood the story told by a new friend:
He was no "spring chicken", but a handsome and "well spoken" man from the Upper Penninsula, Jack Chandler is his name. He is an Ojibwa "spiritual man", .. studying with Donnie Dowd, a Midiwiwin Spiritual Person also. It was just before I retired from Civil Service, the last Indian Outreach conference I went to where..I was honored to be the "emcee" for the event. Jack was the one who said the prayers before our meetings and meals and such, he attended to all our Spiritual needs at the event...he told a story to a group of us one afternoon..
He said he was having health problems and was worried about death and dying and such and what was in store in that respect...one night, as he told it, he dreamed he was standing by a shimmering "wall" of what seemed to be water....this shimmering "wall" had an opening...he went down to look in and there was the most lovely place! He said there were rolling green hills, puffy clouds in a blue sky, w/trees, picturesque lake and flowers and such..and animals...and people standing about too. Such a beautiful and serene place. He was in the process of stepping in when someone holding the back of his shirt pulled him back....it was a friend of his, he said, laughing and saying "You can't go in there yet, Jack"...."It's not time for you!"
Well, needless to say, Jack was no longer apprehensive about death, dying and the "other side" as he knows now, being given a glimpse of it, that the "other side" is right beside us. I always liked that story Jack tells about his "apprehension". It's comforting to know that "Heaven" isn't some far removed place, but right next to us.
It's also said that this world we are in here isn't the "real" world at all...kind of a reverse of the way most think..the "real" world is said to be the spiritual world.
Talking with Jack is like a big warm arm around your shoulders. Kind of comforting, you know? Do you know anyone like Jack? I surely hope you do.
God bless your heart.
