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TITLE: STINGLESS DEATH
By Cyndy McNaul-Nelson
08/26/04

Those of us who lost a parent as children seem to have an embedded feeling that we too, would die at a young age. So it didn’t surprise me, when I worked as a camp nurse, I heard God speak to me. I sat alone and watched the tornado winds blowing that summer weekend.

“Cyndy,” I heard His voice calmly say.

“Yes, Lord,” I responded to His familiar call. The trees bowed low to the ground as the winds weighed them heavy.

“If I took you home through this storm, would you be willing to die?” God asked.

“Yes,” I answered hesitantly. But quizzically smiled at the thought that God had asked, like He needed my permission.

And it didn’t surprise me when He asked me the same question a year later. He asked if I was willing to come home, as I drove the twenty miles one night to my third shift job. I was praising the Lord as I drove down the highway in my ‘57’ Chevy. I rounded a large curve in the highway and was faced with the headlight beams of two semis racing abreast each other.

This situation happened right after I had just responded to God’s question, “Yes, Lord.” There was no time for me to make heroic moves to avoid a collision. I had enough time to cry out, “Jesus.” The steering wheel jerked to the right and the heavy car took the shoulder avoiding the semis. Those drivers didn’t even slow down or use their brakes. I was praising the Lord for His angelic protection as I headed for the emergency room where my job awaited me.

And it didn’t surprise me a bit when years later one tiring day, I laid down for an afternoon nap. I fell asleep immediately from my exhaustion. I found my family and I sitting in cars parked in a row. We were waiting for the Lord to come and rapture us out of this world.

I was seated next to Mother, as a shaft of bright light split the gray skies and touched the arid ground. I shook Mother excitedly, “He’s here, Mom! He’s here,” I cried.

Mom was searching the horizon to see what I was talking about, but her face expressed concern.
“Can you see Him, Mom;” I asked?

“No, Cyndy”, Mom replied. “I don’t see Him.”

I was compelled to get out of the car and approach the shaft of light. I discovered the bright shaft was akin to a sidewalk leading to the sky. I stepped onto the sidewalk and slowly took small steps. I looked back to see Mom following me to the shaft of light. Our eyes met and she answered my silent question.

“I don’t see anything, Cyndy!” Her caring voice reached me. I knew from her look that I was dying.

I continued my walk on this shaft of light. At the top, two angels with a countenance of peace ushered me into the heavens. I experienced much wonderful awe while there. I even lay down for a nap in heaven. I remembered a feeling of safety, peace and warmth.

It wasn’t long after my arrival into the Lord’s presence, the rapture had taken place and my remaining family entered into their eternal home. I ran to Mom, gave her a long hug, and cried out, “Mom, You’ll never guess who’s here!”

I awakened from my dream and was momentarily confused of my surroundings.
“Oh, yeah,” I remembered. I wasn’t in heaven anymore. I was in my own bed with the November afternoon sun splashing over me. I was hugely disappointed. I was still here and many days remained to fulfill God’s work.

My learning through all these experiences and more, have shown me that God has planted my feet in a spacious place of protection. God will let no one harm me until He says my work for Him on earth is done. I need not fear the sting of death, and who knows, He may even let me choose the timing.

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