90 Minutes In Heaven - Hope in Paperback
Written: Jun 01 '08
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Real. Meaningful.
Cons: None.
The Bottom Line: Recommended to people who need to find the hope in their lives (again).
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| kristinafh's Full Review: Don Piper et al - 90 Minutes In Heaven: A True Sto... |
Dear Don,
I saw your book – 90 minutes in heaven – sticking out like a sore thumb at the Phoenix airport. I wasn’t looking to buy a book – I went into the airport shop to find myself a diet coke for the flight. Several times, I passed it. Saw the cover. Saw the ambulance. I turned away, wandered around, but always came back to it. I was drawn to it like a magnet and finally, thinking if I didn’t do something (like purchase this book), I’d be late for my flight.
After boarding the plane, I sat down and started reading your book.
I died on January 18, 1989.
Paramedics reached the scene of the accident within minutes. They found no pulse and declared me dead. They covered me with a tarp so that onlookers wouldn't stare at me while they attended to the injuries of the others. I was completely unaware of the paramedics or anyone else around me.
Immediately after I died, I went straight to heaven.
While I was in heaven, a Baptist preacher came on the scene. Even though he knew I was dead, he rushed to my lifeless body and prayed for me. Despite the scoffing of the Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT's), he refused to stop praying.
At least ninety minutes after the EMT's pronounced me dead, God answered that man's prayers.
I returned to earth.
This is my story.
Wow!
I have to tell you that your story grabbed me by the throat, shaking me to continue. And that was weird because words like, God, Baptist preacher, and prayers, usually turn me off from moving forward with any book.
I paused. I thought. Those words. With the place that I am in – emotionally and spiritually – it was an excruciating decision. To continue to read or not.
My gut said – just shut up and read.
But I wasn’t sure what direction you were going to take with your story. Would you tell me that your life was now perfect and that you were a completely new man because of your death experience? Would you condemn all sinners (in this book) because you had seen the light (literally) and the rest of us were beneath you? Gosh. I was worried. I hoped my intuition about your story was right.
I took a deep breath and I continued.
Don, I was glued to your words. Your description of heaven as the place - well - in the middle of the plane - right with everyone around - I was silently crying. I tried my best to hold back too. How would/could I explain ME crying over the story of a man who I didn’t even know?
I absorbed your words as if I was experiencing them myself. I’ve been in places (although not dead) where no one expected me to live – or places where I just didn’t want to go on – and I could really comprehend exactly what you were feeling.
The struggles – you were (physically) one person one day, and (physically) someone else - completely different - the next.
Shutting out people who cared – I know Don…I know about this. You think that you’re sparing them. You think that they don’t understand. You think that to rely on anyone is to be weak because you can make it out of the hole you are in. You are a strong person. You do not give up.
I know. And then, it all falls apart and it’s all new for you and your usual coping mechanisms – they don’t work. As hard as you want them to – they just plain don’t work.
Thank you for admitting that.
Thank you for admitting that you were angry and hurt and mad.
Thank you for admitting that you just didn’t want to live anymore.
Thank you for admitting that you didn’t understand how prayer or God or people could help your situation.
You made me feel normal - like somebody else “got it”.
I cried the entire two hour plane trip Don. I wasn’t sobbing – it was a constant stream which was accompanied by very little noise. My tears - I think they were tears of relief – tears of hope (and hear I go – tearing up as I type this).
Your story - your journey - the random things that happened to you along the way of you trying to make sense of why you had gone through such a horrendous situation. I got it. It made sense. Thank you for putting it all out there. You made a difference in my life.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
kristinafh
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Member: Kristina Frazier-Henry
Location: Indiana
Reviews written: 1344
Trusted by: 1169 members
About Me:
Cannot breathe. Missing Barbara.
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