God Calling

I was driving near Oceanside, California, when I was ordered by a policeman to pull over and stop my car. A two-car accident blocked the freeway. I told the policeman that I was a minister and asked if he thought anyone involved in the car wreck needed to speak with me. He nodded and pointed to a man who was already surrounded by paramedics. I walked quickly over to him, sensing that there was little time. I introduced myself and asked him if he would like to pray.

            “I’m dying,” he whispered. “Not much time left.”

            I nodded, knowing he was right.

            “I don’t believe in God,” he said. “You got any other suggestions?”

            Without thinking, I said, “Do you believe in love?”

            He nodded his head slightly and then said, “Yes.”

“How about letting yourself remember all the times you loved this lifetime?”

            He closed his eyes, and I was not sure if he was dead or alive. After a few minutes he squeezed my hand slightly and said, “Okay, what’s next?”

            Since I had never done this before, I breathed into my high heart and asked. The response I heard was, “Now remember all the times people loved you.”

               Again he nodded, closed his eyes and I continued to send love to him. He surprised me by opening his eyes and saying, “You know, I am beginning to believe that maybe there is a God.”

            I moved close to his ear and whispered, “God bless you and your journey.”

            I do not know if he heard me, and it really didn’t matter because he had died surrounded by love. I stayed with him for another few minutes before I turned his body over to others. Before I returned to my car, I realized I did not even know his name. How strange to interact with someone’s soul without even knowing his name!

Excerpted from Awaken by Rosalie Deer Heart