After insertion of anesthesia lines, no memory during the meningiotomy; six hours or so and bloody, I'm told. Afterward, my memory is just me and the Lord, and peace, and light, and no time. But finally it happened that my eyes opened and I saw the clock at the foot of my bed, then closed them and rested it seemed for several hours. Then opened my eyes again, saw the clock, but only about two minutes of real time had passed. This went on for a long, long time in my inner senses, and my soul was at peace as I went on rehearsing the verses I had been memorizing before the operation:
"Be not overmuch righteous, neither make thyself overwise:
why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish:
why shouldest thou die before thy time?
It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this;
yea, from this withdraw not thine hand:
he that feareth God shall come forth of them all."
This was from Ecclesiastes 7:16-18, and I had taken it as a direct message from God to continue to keep my ways straight before Him.
I still remember that suspended-time experience, though it tends to fade when the illusory rush of life and its craziness wants to keep taking over. But His admonition is, "Don't let it."
Blessed be The Father, and the Son of His Love, risen to resume His Glory! I praise Him for sending His Comforter, His Spirit, to be with me at all times, especially through my operation.
Near death? I believe so. How gracious He is to give me a preview and not be afraid of departing this sphere. I believe His angelic beings have been protecting me all my life, even when I was so evil-minded.
Being with the Lord alone is too wondersome to articulate.