All through my younger life I was a very athletic girl, growing up a tom-boy who preferred to jump ramps on my bike over playing with dolls.
While in high school, I became the second girl to ever receive a varsity letter for athletics in the entire history of my hometown. I am not talking a small town, either. At that time, there were six high schools and three colleges and I received a total of six varsity letters for gymnastics, diving and track.
In fact, I was training for a diving competition in the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) District National Championship competition for the right to vie for a spot on the Olympic team.
It was a warm July day in 1981, and I hurried to my diving practice and coaching session and arrived just in time. Little did I know that I would die, go to heaven and come back to my life!
We had to work around the schedule of the high school, and although they were closed for the summer, a number of athletes would practice there in preparation for the competitive season.
Because of this, chaos was the standard routine in the pool room. I was practicing a rather difficult dive, especially since I was trying to pull it off on a one meter board which, by the way, is about three feet off the surface of the water.
The dive I was practicing was a front one-and-a-half somersault in a pike position with a full twist. I had thrown several successful but sloppy dives when a fellow team member showed up and began practicing, too.
We started cutting-up to break the monotony. I would do my dives, then wait at the bottom of the pool until I could hear the sound of the diving board as it bounced when my friend hit the board.
Choosing that moment, I would spring from the bottom of the pool and when I rushed out of the water in the middle of the pool, I would wave my arms and act silly. We were both doing it, so nothing was thought when during my next dive, I didn’t come back up from the bottom of the pool.
What my coach and the other divers didn’t know, is that I had dislocated my shoulder on my most recent dive because of a sloppy entry. I decided that since I was able to get it back into the socket, I would keep practicing. After all, I wouldn’t want to be accused of being a wimp.
The next dive I attempted was nothing short of tragic. I made my approach, vaulted off the board and executed the dive. However, I threw my body into the dive before I reached the full height of the vault that meant the dive would be too low. As a result, I hit the water while still rotating and spinning with my arms in a spread eagle position.
That was the last thing I remember before waking up after I returned from heaven.
When I hit the water, my body was still spinning and rotating and created so much centrifugal force that it knocked me out when I hit the water. I sank like a stone.
It turned out to be the most profound experience of my life. I remember that I did not feel any pain whatsoever, and I began to feel like I was floating, much like the feeling I would experience on occasion when dreaming. I also recall that I didn’t even remember just getting hurt!
It never even occurred to me that I was dying. However, do I remember worrying about my loved ones and what they would do without me. Then, suddenly, I didn’t even think about my life on earth because I became so absorbed in the moment.
I began feeling ecstatic. I am not just talking about sort of happy. I am talking about a profound joy. I have to tell you that the joy I felt was absolutely beyond description because I doubt that there is such a word in any human language.
It was the kind of joy you would feel specifically if you had been hopelessly lost for decades and had given up on even scanning the horizon for anything familiar to you that would suggest that you were even close to home. You had even given up on the possibility of finding it and just wandered aimlessly waiting to die.
Then suddenly, at the top of the hill, your home comes into view and a tremendous rush of emotion slams into you and tingles down your spine before you can burst into a run.
That is how I felt, except multiply it by ten. Incredibly, the feeling didn’t go away. In fact, it just kept getting stronger. Still, I never made the association of Heaven and what I was experiencing.
Then, suddenly again, I began to be aware of a deep, commanding, loving and fatherly voice. This voice was inside my head and simply said “Be here now.” I was deeply comforted that voice, which made me feel as though I had just fallen into the arms of the heart’s home.
Then I felt as though a giant hand that was much bigger than my body was pushing me down a tube. I awoke while laying on the cement beside the pool to a face just inches from mine.
I still hadn’t consciously realized what had happened to me, and the words I said next just tumbled out of my mouth and it was as though I was hearing them for the first time myself.
“You interrupted me, I was talking to God!” I declared angrily. Upon hearing that, the person, who turned out to be a paramedic, turned pale. He responded by saying, “But you weren’t breathing!”
At that moment, the realization of what just happened to me hit me like a bolt of lightening. I will never really be sure that it was in fact God that spoke that day. I am more inclined to believe that I heard an Angel.
A few hours after it happened, as I lay in bed in an immobilizer for my broken shoulder and collarbone, I recalled that the words “Be Here Now” happened to be the title of a book written by Richard Alpert after he became Baba Ram Dass.
To this day, when I think of it, and even writing it now, I literally feel the emotion rise up into my throat and the sting of tears in the back of my eyes. Even now, the skin on my arms and the back of neck rise up and tingle at the thought of that day and especially what I experienced.
You would think that time would dim the memory and obscure the intensity of emotion, but after all this time, it is as though it happened yesterday.
The experience has turned out to be a double edged sword. By that I mean that on one hand, it is a true luxury that my spirituality doesn’t have to be a matter of faith, for I KNOW what happened and that Heaven is real. On the other hand, I felt for a long time that I had a carrot dangled in front of my face.
I struggled with that sword for quite some time before finally accepting the fact that I came back for a reason. I have told many people about my experience through the years.
I did this when I discovered they had suffered from or was about to suffer the loss of a loved one, and in one case a dying friend. I would tell them about it to assure them that Heaven was real and that we do indeed continue to live after leaving this world.
I believe that is why I had this after life experience. So I COULD tell people and maybe help them in their struggle with their faith and to rejoice in the absolute certainty of what awaits after I die again.
So let me assure you that Heaven most certainly does exist and that our time on Earth is but a temporary stop in our existence. I hope this article can help you if you are struggling with your faith, and if that is not your case, then I hope you enjoyed my story.
The big thing to remember in life is this. Don’t let life steal your joy and don’t let doubt steal your faith.
More articles by Bren Parks
Your story is so similar to my experience (metaphysical-musings.com) and I’m so happy to meet you!
I agree, human words cannot describe that feeling of love and joy! It’s overwhelming. And wasn’t it wonderful to be so accepted unconditionally?
I wonder, has your “religious” beliefs changed as much as mine have since the experience?
Namaste’,
Debbie
Hey…it got me goosebumps all over. Thanks for sharing your experience but it got some strange feelings stir in me. It reminded me of someone who have left us and I desprately wanted him to come back to us.
This was an awesome story based on near death experience.
That is amazing stuff, very heartening. Beautiful story.
i’ll be there too! sooner or later
Bren,
When I started reading this article by you, the phone rang. I was my youngest daughter, in Florida, telling me that one of my best friend’s had just died at 9:57am.
I really hope she will have a beautiful experience – as you did – before you came back. She was diagnosed with cancer just 3 weeks ago and now she is gone, free from suffering. I will send your article to her daughter and her husband. Thank you, it was absorbing.
Oh, Cheryl, that is so astounding that tears came to my eyes!…….I feel this is why I am still here………
Fascinating. I know what it is like to have an out of body experience, but I’ve never had the classic near death experience. You are blessed with a rare gift.
So awesome Bren..
What an incredible experience, thankyou for sharing it!
Very nice
Interesting article. Thx for sharing your unique story with all of us. First time I read such a story.
WOW! Amazing. Just amazing… I am speechless!
You had a tremendously wonderful experience despite the injury. Nice read.
is this true i hope it is i want to make it to eaven but i kina feel veryoone is going to hell……..i kow weird.
don’t know how I missed this over the months – amazing story
Don’t worry omg, it really did happen and Heaven really exists, I promise you that…….just keep love in your heart and let it govern your actions and you will get there.
Bren
Bren, This happened approx. 29yrs ago right? And you still have clear recollection of it? I can hardly recall last week on some days much less 29 – 30yrs. I have a friend how has had a very similar experience and she can recall every detail still today and her experience occurred in 1975. My friend is 74yrs old and has Alzheimer’s. She doesn’t remember 2 of her 4 children, nor does she remember where she lives and she has lived in the same place her entire life. Yet she can still tell of he day she had her Near Death experience. And can repeat every detail just like she did 35yrs ago. I have no doubt that she experienced going to heaven and meeting God. I am so blessed to have met you here. I believe those of you who have this experience, has a special purpose while here on earth. I think you have found your purpose. Keep spreading God’s word.
May Peace be With You, Kae
Thank you so much for telling us about your experience. I too have met our Lord, though it was not in a near-death experience. I too can say with total certainty – God loves us, Heaven exists, what the Bible says is true and we’re here on Earth for a short time on our way home. And yes, the love and joy are overwhelming… This happened to me 20 years ago and I remember every detail. May our Father bless you and everyone you meet and share with. Jonie
You know, people actually have a specific part of their bodies that produces something like this experience when they are near death. It was most likely this, not your imaginary friend.
Bren,
That is a cool story but at the same time you keep talking about how if you keep love in your heart then everyone can get to heaven. But I have a little difficulty understanding that. My reason being is because the Bible that I read does say to love your neighbor as yourself and love covers over a multitude of sins. But not once does it say that by just keeping love in your heart and governing your actions does it get you into heaven. What the Bible says is the only way to get into heaven is through Jesus Christ. I do not understand near-death experiences and what all that entails because I have heard many stories about near-death experiences, but what I do understand is that humanity needs a little more than “love” to get into heaven. Humanity needs Jesus Christ in order to get into heaven. Because here is the thing, without Jesus there is no heaven. I say that because heaven is made to worship Jesus forever and ever but if Jesus were never there then who would there be to worship in heaven? From what I have read, heaven is not a get out of jail card, but Jesus is the get out of jail card. Here is the thing, if humanity loved then everyone would be a shoe-in to get to heaven. But Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” What I am trying to say is that yeah heaven is a great place and is going to be a great place, but if you do not know Jesus in a personal way then there is no way to heaven.
I LOVE JESUS !!! AND U R LUCKY TO HAVE GONE AND RETURN TO GIVE US ACCOUNT,
*******************
THANK U BREN..I WAS GOOGLING ON TOPIC “HOW TO KNOW IF HE OR SHE WENT TO HEAVEN”, AND CAME ACROSS THIS WEBSITE,
I HAD READ YOUR STORY AND THANK U FOR LETTING US KNOW ABOUT IT, AND THIS IS COMFORTED TO ME,
I TRULY WANT TO DO RIGHT AND GET CLOSE TO THE LORD, AND WILL LET OTHERS WHO I KNOW ABOUT THIS STORY,
SO THEY CAN READ,
BE BLESS, CHARMAINE
Yes, Juan, I am very much in agreement with Jesus, but I don’t think God worries too much about labels such as Christian, Muslim and so on………what is in your heart is what matters, and what you do in your life. It isn’t so much what you achieve in life, it is the spirit in which you do achieve……….
I agree with Juan, Truly JESUS CHRIST is the only way, the truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through HIM, (John 14:6) and once a person accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and Lord, good actions should be seen on him/her..
By the way, your story is so amazing…
…….just keep love in your heart and let it govern your actions and you will get there.
Its just a quote. Dont put this woman down, because she is uplifting. Clearly she believes in God. Even if she did not, it is her choice!
Do not try to command faith on her! You are not God! You have no right! I honestly feel that she was simply trying to tell people in this world to be good, and good things will happen. Its called karma. Even some christians believe in karma, i know that i do.
This story amazed me, I came across it after watching a video of a little boy who had gone to heaven and came back. The story caught my attention and then I was off!!! Looking up other stories about this certain experience. Your story is so clear, and so touching. It honestly has changed me in a sense. I do not normally leave comments, but i felt that the “usual” was happening. By that i mean our typical people “these days” Would in a sense try to put you down, or say you dont believe. Yes I do agree jesus is the only way. But who am i to point the finger and say it to you? Who am i to even say you do not believe? Who am i to try and tell you what to believe? I am but a mear human. No i am not on a mission to put anyone down. I am simply trying to make certain that everyone understands that we have choices. In my own eyes God is boss! But to others it might not be God it may be a simple symbol, or the virgin mary. That is there choice, and it angers me so to sit here and watch people leave these comments all over one quote you posted. Sorry for ranting and raging. I had to share my oppinion. Bren keep on telling your story, keep spreading the love. Keep being a good person because this world does not have many of them in it. The next time you tell someone “just keep love in your heart” and they argue with you with versus from the bible. Tell them its a simple quote even christians believe in karma.
The end is to close….to have dout….i really hope someone reads this because….god loves you,and the only way to get to heaven is through god….to have his spirit within you….everything I’m saying is completely true…..and I’m also warning you,the end is very close so give your life to god….because he loved you first….and by the way…I’m only 14 and i have had so many supernatural encounters….not with ghosts….but angels! God is real!heaven is real!give your life to god because if you do…you will not perish but have eternal life….
Hopefully your testimony will help others get to Heaven.
GOD Bless You!!!
well that is great ,God bless you