Near Death Experiences--Part 4

Today's "Sunday Reflections" blog is the last in a four part series reviewing books on the subject of Near Death Experience. The reviews are written by four clergy in the Forest Hills and Regent Square area. Today's column is by Fr. John Skirtich, looking at the book, 90 Minutes in Heaven, by Don Piper, with Cecil Murphey. Revel, 2004. 206pp. $12.99.

90 Minutes in Heaven highlights the experiences of Baptist minister Don Piper after he "died" in a tragic car accident, experienced heaven for about ninety minutes, and then came back to life. Indeed, Mr. Piper was declared dead by the EMS personnel on the scene and the book relates his dramatic return, singing no less, as another minister prayed for him amidst his mangled body in the tarp-covered wreckage.

Rev. Piper’s experience of heaven, of the people he had known in his life coming to great him, the flapping of wings of the angels, the pearly gates, streets of gold, and singing, all fit into the general Christian idea of heaven. Unfortunately, these mesmerizing descriptions of heaven make up only a few short chapters of his book; most of the text relates necessary details about his family life and ministry, names of people and examples of the help they gave him during his long recovery from the accident, and the details of his excruciating recovery.

While the experiences the Rev. Piper has gone through are heart-wrenching at times and one can readily sympathize with his plight during the healing process, the sentences get repetitive and the book bogs down in its plodding middle section.

Eventually, Rev. Piper is able to recover, for the most part, though with life-long limitations, and come to terms with having to "come back to earth" and find a purpose for why he is still here. That purpose is found in his ongoing ministry and the people he is able to touch through his witness. In a riveting final chapter he poses all the hard questions about NDE’s (near-death experiences) and relates the best answers that he can give.

Fr. John Skirtich

St. Maurice Roman Catholic Church, Forest Hills

(Sunday Reflections for August 18, 2013)