Near-Death Experience

When I was a little girl, I lived with my aunt and uncle and studied in a little school some distance from their home. My uncle took me to school every day on his bicycle before continuing his ride to work. In the evening, after school, he brought me back home on his bike. He did his part in educating me, and I did mine. One rainy day my uncle rode me to school and continued on to work, as usual. I was chagrined, however, to find the school empty; we had not been aware it was a holiday. I did not like the idea of waiting there alone for so many hours. Since my uncle would not return for me until late in the afternoon, I decided to walk home. I tossed my schoolbag over my shoulder, picked up my water bottle, and headed home.

Somewhere along the return trip, though, I sensed someone was following me. Turning to look behind me, I spotted a man with a gunnysack in his hand.

He appeared to be taking purposeful strides toward me.

My little heart skipped a beat, and I picked up my pace.

When I next glanced over my shoulder again, I realized the stranger had also picked up his pace and was staring intently at me. I started to run, my heart in my mouth. The roadway on which I traveled was deserted. One more glance revealed that the man behind me was running as well, closing the gap between us. Panic threatened to overcome me.

Then I looked ahead of myself, down the road. My uncle’s house seemed to have appeared out of nowhere! Could it be I was there already? It was almost as if some unknown power had airlifted me to safety just in the nick of time! I reached home and the safety of my uncle’s family. When I was out of the stranger’s view, I breathed a great sigh of relief and looked heavenward. I could literally feel the protecting presence of God all about me.

That incident assured me that God has a plan for each one of us. In fact, the Bible tells us, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you” (Jeremiah 1:5, NKJV).

Rita Das