The word “angel” evokes happy and positive thoughts in us. Most of us believe in angels, even though it is extremely rare for us to have seen them. They are not elusive; from what I have learned, their vibration exists beyond our perception, which is why we do not perceive them within our physical realm. Yet some people claim not only to have seen them but also to have communicated with them. In all my years of service, I have only once witnessed an angelic being, catching a fleeting glimpse while attending to a burn patient in a hospital ICU.
I knew the patient before her tragic accident, an accident that almost claimed her life. She had been at home when a fire broke out, engulfing her in flames and smoke. She lost consciousness on the floor, but the firemen reached her in time to save her life. She was in a coma in the hospital and in a critical condition.
I felt deeply saddened to see her life hanging in the balance, and I continued to visit her to pray for her and offer healing. I struggled because I could not see any improvement, and at times I asked myself, “What was I doing there?”
I visited my older friend Paula, who was deeply spiritual, and I told her that I was losing hope because the patient was not improving. She assured me that no act of healing is ever wasted, and that someone in the ICU would benefit from my visits, either directly or indirectly.
The next day, I returned to the ICU, hoping that Paula was right. I knelt down and began to pray, and soon afterwards I felt myself drifting into a peaceful state. I do not remember how much time had passed before I felt a distinct urge to look to my right. When I did, I saw a towering angelic figure standing at the foot of the bed. Within a split second, the angel vanished. In that brief moment, time seemed to stand still, and I felt as though I had received multiple thoughts all at once. I cannot begin to describe the overwhelming sense of peace that filled me. The experience had a profound effect on me.
The angel was surrounded by a soft white-and-blue light. He stood tall and upright at the foot of the bed. I could see his wings, his long hair, and his arm, slightly raised, hand pointing toward the patient. The angel appeared to be in the midst of healing her, and this renewed my hope.
Overwhelmed by what I had experienced, I recounted it to my friend Paula. She was delighted for me.
Even more wondrous was that despite all odds, the patient made a full recovery.
