When I was around twelve years old, I attended a funeral in Lebanon. I watched as people dramatically tore at themselves in grief, wailed, and screamed. It was deeply painful to witness so much sorrow. I remember feeling puzzled, because according to the Bible, we do not truly die, and I could not understand why they were so devastated.
As I grew older, I came to understand that people grieve not only because they will miss their loved ones, but also because many believe they will never see them again and that death is final. At that same age, I was having otherworldly experiences of my own, including visitations and visions, and I was giving readings to older family members and their friends. In that sense, I was blessed with a kind of insight into the other side. This is not a criticism of anyone. I know that death is painful regardless, and I, too, have cried on many occasions for every loss. Still, I do not experience grief at extreme levels. I know, and absolutely believe, that our loved ones continue to exist in a different realm. We do not, and cannot, truly die.
I tried to share my experiences and feelings with the adults around me, but most dismissed me as a child, until I began sharing intricate details about their loved ones that I could not possibly have known. At that point, people stopped and listened, because they could find no explanation for how I knew these things. That brief, momentary lapse of doubt allowed some of them to re-evaluate their thinking. When I realised I was being heard, I felt motivated to do more.
Word spread from my family to their friends, and then to friends of friends. Without fully realising it, I was sharing knowledge about loved ones and bringing hope and comfort to the bereaved. The effects were wondrous. I remember many people hugging me and kissing me through tears, while I wondered what I had done to deserve such affection.
Whether my path was chosen for me or not, I do not know. What I do know is that I am now nearly fifty-nine years old, and I am still on the same path I began as a child. I am more motivated than ever to bring hope and comfort to those around me.
I am a reader and a healer. I am honoured to be the voice of Spirit.
