I feel as what was mentioned above by Christian relates to my experience as well. I can recall being as young as 5, perhaps 6 at most, and being unable to sleep. I was perturbed by the thought of, “If God is God, then who created Him/Her/Source?” I would think about this sometimes to the point of causing myself severe distress. I felt almost impossible to wrap my mind around the concept of something being created out of nothing. It was quite a strange thought to be having in my earliest years of life. I admit. But over analyzing has plagued me since I can recall. And if I’m entirely honest, the thought still provokes some feelings. Still, I feel more at peace now despite not having a clear answer for this conundrum. I accept that our human brain may simply be unable to comprehend such a complex concept. I find your quote, “I had broken through to a new reality,” extremely relatable. My entire view on life and death has completely transformed. I understand that our body is merely a vessel, a dress to be rid of once the journey here is complete. There is this overwhelming sense of “knowing”, as I believe you have highlighted, Bob. A “knowing” that all this information has somehow always been there, that this is our truth. I’m not afraid to return to my true home. And I’m happy to see my brothers find comfort in your words, your wisdom. Much love, 🙏🏼💜
Hi Maria, your words flowed from my eyes to my brain, body, and emotions with the grace of poetry. I love the transition you created mid-comment, which landed the frustration of unanswerable questions with sweet surrender, peace, and beauty.
I do wonder if there never was a need for "something being created out of nothing." What if the "infinite" that our human brains seem unable to fathom includes an energy or intelligence that infinitely existed? If that's the case, then there's no need to ask "Who created God?" But, I know, grappling with the infinite and "always existed" is a mind-twister in itself, so we really just replace one brain cramp with another. Thank you for writing.
Hi Bob! Thank you for a great topic and article, as always!! I was never shielded from death growing up. (I’ve previously talked about using the cemetery as a playground while my father dug graves.) My parents were older—40 and 45 when I was born—and they came from large families. There were deaths every other week! Probably my earliest memory was as a 3-year-old kneeling in front of my Grandmother’s casket. I remember thinking it was strange to be kneeling in front of a giant wall, which is all I could see from my vantage point. And my next memory is getting into trouble for sifting my fingers through the fine sand in the ash trays of that funeral home! :D Also, growing up on a farm, there was death happening nearly on a daily basis. I used to watch my Grandfather kill chickens and then I’d help my mother clean the whole chicken for supper. Farm kids learn a lot about every aspect of life at a very early age. But my actual comment….I know, get to it…is this: I have always been fascinated with the afterlife—reading, listening, meditating, praying, talking, visiting psychics, the whole gamut—that I often wonder if I spend too much time thinking about the afterlife when it’s this current life that I should be giving more of that thought power to. I don’t mean what you do or what psychics or instructors do because we all need teachers and thankfully you and they are available to research and instruct. But as a learner, I wonder if I over-indulge in thinking about death. I am not worried about dying. I’ve learned enough and believe enough that I’m not worried. I’m fascinated! I had a very adventurous sister and when she learned she was dying she was excited about her new upcoming adventure. (All of my siblings were taught healthy views of death.) So I fantasize about seeing my sisters, parents, friends, as well as being with all the spiritual leaders and teachers that I have prayed to and connected with. I’m not eager in any kind of morbid way, but I do spend a lot of time with pleasant thoughts in the afterlife. Too much time? I don’t know.
Wow, Mary, you have so much to teach people. What a fascinating and unique childhood you had. Between your father's vocation, your experiences in funeral homes, and growing up on a farm, I would struggle to imagine a more all-encompassing education about death. Melissa and I recently watched Clarkson's Farm on Amazon Prime, about a non-farmer learning to be one. The two seasons were eye-opening, and your comments about learning about death by growing up on a farm really come through in this show.
Regarding your pondering about thinking too much about this subject, my feeling on this is that we learn a lot about life when thinking about the afterlife. I truly feel that half my articles here reference some lesson about life while discussing spirits, spirit communication, and the spirit world. I think it's why I've sustained an interest in this field for so long and possibly why your thoughts gravitate in this way. I do wish that more people grew up with the comfort around death that you learned to have because I think it would give them a greater sense of inner peace. Thanks for your comments and sharing.
Yes, death is scary and people really avoid talking about it. Two main reasons are that we don’t know what it entails and that we don’t come back. Most of us picture death as obliteration….and that’s frightening. At my age of 92 death hovers nearby. I figure,”What the heck. There’s no sense worrying about it since I have no choice. Either it’s nothingness or it’s something great. But either way I might as well relax since what will be will be…end of discussion!!”
Que sera, sera. Words to live by. If it eases worries, it's invaluable. Well, you know where I stand on those two choices: death will be something great, I'd add incredible, even exhilarating. I'm amazed at that number, 92. The stories you have to tell. I always thought I was going to die as a teenager. When I didn't, I never expected to make it to 30. Now at 60, I can't imagine reaching 92. I'll think of you, Ann, if I do, and won't I be surprised. Thank you for your words of wisdom.
Que sera, sera.
Whatever will be, will be.
The future's not ours to see.
Que sera, sera.
What will be, will be.
(Sung by Doris Day in Alfred Hitchcock's movie, "The Man Who Knew Too Much" - 1956.)
Wonderful article! I love the part when you were a child, in catechism class, asking how we know God is real. I had a similar experience when I was a child. I was in a church youth group and asked, "If God created everything, who created God?" Well, someone talked to my mother about this and she instructed me not to ask questions. So began my long journey of ignoring my mothers instructions and asking questions.
However, as I sit here typing up my response, my father-in-law is close to passing over. I find it strange, that as a medium, that I am fearful of death. I have facilitated wonderful readings with passed over loved ones coming through giving incredible information. But yet, I am still bothered by death. I still have questions. Why, why is this world constructed this way? Being a little bit of a history buff I am well aware of the thousands of years of human suffering and death. As well as human joy and love...and still death. Can't God figure out a better way for souls to learn. I have heard so many reasons as to why this world is the way it is but none have ever felt right to me. I am sure that my past has quite a bit to do with how I feel about death. My first experience with death was my father's passing when I was 12 years old. Then an Aunt, a grandparent, my brother's 5 year old son and by 19 I was shooting it out and surviving in a combat zone. After the war I remember feeling how "done" I was with death.
Over the years helping people connect with loved ones has helped me with getting closer to having peace with death and your article does help me with this. So, thank you, thank you for writing.
Your comments always intrigue me, Christian, usually because of the depth of your thinking. You've experienced a lot of death and at such a young age. For this, I have sincere compassion and empathy for you. I'm glad this article added another puzzle piece to this puzzle for you. "Done with Death" is a great memoir title. First you experienced death, then you helped others deal with their experiences.
Your comments are timely because I've been considering teaching a course specifically for people who work with clients and patients dealing with loss. I bring it up because I wondered if most mediums would think they already know everything they need to know. And then your comment comes through with such authenticity and honesty that I realize that having the experiences mediums have only touches the surface of the greater afterlife picture, so the answer to my question is: There will be some mediums who know their experiences are limited and are open-minded enough to realize, "they don't know what they don't know." Thanks for sharing your story and your reaction to my article.
Thank you, Michael. I really appreciate that. Noticing you're a truck driver, if you haven't seen it, I thought you might enjoy this article I wrote about accompanying my father in his old Kenworth when I was a boy. It's not the lesson as much as the experience (the first half of the article) that I thought you might enjoy. https://bobolsonconnect.com/p/hiding-ants
I love this. Especially the last quote.. "While we are mourning the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to meet him behind the veil.” i wish i knew what i know now , when i lost so many family members in my life. But I believe it was meant to be this way, and i am living every day as if it were my last. Positivity and without fear. Thanks for these articles. I hope to pass the lessons onto others who are where i used to be in my beliefs.
Thanks Francine. You know, living each day as if it were your last is a great way to appreciate every moment. If find it hard to do since it's so easy to get swooped up by life, leading me to forget to think that way. But when I do, the day unfolds so much more magically. Thanks for the reminder.
I love this article. Thank you for spreading the word about death. I love the idea that the souls on the other side celebrate our return.
I wanted to mention that one reason people fear death may be that it is often the result of a catastrophe such as floods, earthquakes, gun violence, or car crashes. Those kinds of deaths seem to cause heartaches and people don’t allow themselves to think death might be planned that way. Just a thought.
Hi Shari, Yes, some deaths are too painful to think about. In fact, your comment gives me the opportunity to note that the catastrophic deaths you mention are more about how one dies (the causes of death), whereas the subject of the article (death) is about the state of being dead (after one has died). As I said in my book, dying can be scary, but death is not, which we learn by exploring the afterlife. Thanks for prompting me to make that important distinction, and thanks for your kind words, as always.
I just love your writing! "Right then, a little blonde girl who sat diagonally across from me turned to me with a look of contempt that could have melted the metal buttons on my Roy Rogers cowboy shirt." Precious!!!
I feel as what was mentioned above by Christian relates to my experience as well. I can recall being as young as 5, perhaps 6 at most, and being unable to sleep. I was perturbed by the thought of, “If God is God, then who created Him/Her/Source?” I would think about this sometimes to the point of causing myself severe distress. I felt almost impossible to wrap my mind around the concept of something being created out of nothing. It was quite a strange thought to be having in my earliest years of life. I admit. But over analyzing has plagued me since I can recall. And if I’m entirely honest, the thought still provokes some feelings. Still, I feel more at peace now despite not having a clear answer for this conundrum. I accept that our human brain may simply be unable to comprehend such a complex concept. I find your quote, “I had broken through to a new reality,” extremely relatable. My entire view on life and death has completely transformed. I understand that our body is merely a vessel, a dress to be rid of once the journey here is complete. There is this overwhelming sense of “knowing”, as I believe you have highlighted, Bob. A “knowing” that all this information has somehow always been there, that this is our truth. I’m not afraid to return to my true home. And I’m happy to see my brothers find comfort in your words, your wisdom. Much love, 🙏🏼💜
Hi Maria, your words flowed from my eyes to my brain, body, and emotions with the grace of poetry. I love the transition you created mid-comment, which landed the frustration of unanswerable questions with sweet surrender, peace, and beauty.
I do wonder if there never was a need for "something being created out of nothing." What if the "infinite" that our human brains seem unable to fathom includes an energy or intelligence that infinitely existed? If that's the case, then there's no need to ask "Who created God?" But, I know, grappling with the infinite and "always existed" is a mind-twister in itself, so we really just replace one brain cramp with another. Thank you for writing.
Hi Bob! Thank you for a great topic and article, as always!! I was never shielded from death growing up. (I’ve previously talked about using the cemetery as a playground while my father dug graves.) My parents were older—40 and 45 when I was born—and they came from large families. There were deaths every other week! Probably my earliest memory was as a 3-year-old kneeling in front of my Grandmother’s casket. I remember thinking it was strange to be kneeling in front of a giant wall, which is all I could see from my vantage point. And my next memory is getting into trouble for sifting my fingers through the fine sand in the ash trays of that funeral home! :D Also, growing up on a farm, there was death happening nearly on a daily basis. I used to watch my Grandfather kill chickens and then I’d help my mother clean the whole chicken for supper. Farm kids learn a lot about every aspect of life at a very early age. But my actual comment….I know, get to it…is this: I have always been fascinated with the afterlife—reading, listening, meditating, praying, talking, visiting psychics, the whole gamut—that I often wonder if I spend too much time thinking about the afterlife when it’s this current life that I should be giving more of that thought power to. I don’t mean what you do or what psychics or instructors do because we all need teachers and thankfully you and they are available to research and instruct. But as a learner, I wonder if I over-indulge in thinking about death. I am not worried about dying. I’ve learned enough and believe enough that I’m not worried. I’m fascinated! I had a very adventurous sister and when she learned she was dying she was excited about her new upcoming adventure. (All of my siblings were taught healthy views of death.) So I fantasize about seeing my sisters, parents, friends, as well as being with all the spiritual leaders and teachers that I have prayed to and connected with. I’m not eager in any kind of morbid way, but I do spend a lot of time with pleasant thoughts in the afterlife. Too much time? I don’t know.
Wow, Mary, you have so much to teach people. What a fascinating and unique childhood you had. Between your father's vocation, your experiences in funeral homes, and growing up on a farm, I would struggle to imagine a more all-encompassing education about death. Melissa and I recently watched Clarkson's Farm on Amazon Prime, about a non-farmer learning to be one. The two seasons were eye-opening, and your comments about learning about death by growing up on a farm really come through in this show.
Regarding your pondering about thinking too much about this subject, my feeling on this is that we learn a lot about life when thinking about the afterlife. I truly feel that half my articles here reference some lesson about life while discussing spirits, spirit communication, and the spirit world. I think it's why I've sustained an interest in this field for so long and possibly why your thoughts gravitate in this way. I do wish that more people grew up with the comfort around death that you learned to have because I think it would give them a greater sense of inner peace. Thanks for your comments and sharing.
Yes, death is scary and people really avoid talking about it. Two main reasons are that we don’t know what it entails and that we don’t come back. Most of us picture death as obliteration….and that’s frightening. At my age of 92 death hovers nearby. I figure,”What the heck. There’s no sense worrying about it since I have no choice. Either it’s nothingness or it’s something great. But either way I might as well relax since what will be will be…end of discussion!!”
Que sera, sera. Words to live by. If it eases worries, it's invaluable. Well, you know where I stand on those two choices: death will be something great, I'd add incredible, even exhilarating. I'm amazed at that number, 92. The stories you have to tell. I always thought I was going to die as a teenager. When I didn't, I never expected to make it to 30. Now at 60, I can't imagine reaching 92. I'll think of you, Ann, if I do, and won't I be surprised. Thank you for your words of wisdom.
Que sera, sera.
Whatever will be, will be.
The future's not ours to see.
Que sera, sera.
What will be, will be.
(Sung by Doris Day in Alfred Hitchcock's movie, "The Man Who Knew Too Much" - 1956.)
Wonderful article! I love the part when you were a child, in catechism class, asking how we know God is real. I had a similar experience when I was a child. I was in a church youth group and asked, "If God created everything, who created God?" Well, someone talked to my mother about this and she instructed me not to ask questions. So began my long journey of ignoring my mothers instructions and asking questions.
However, as I sit here typing up my response, my father-in-law is close to passing over. I find it strange, that as a medium, that I am fearful of death. I have facilitated wonderful readings with passed over loved ones coming through giving incredible information. But yet, I am still bothered by death. I still have questions. Why, why is this world constructed this way? Being a little bit of a history buff I am well aware of the thousands of years of human suffering and death. As well as human joy and love...and still death. Can't God figure out a better way for souls to learn. I have heard so many reasons as to why this world is the way it is but none have ever felt right to me. I am sure that my past has quite a bit to do with how I feel about death. My first experience with death was my father's passing when I was 12 years old. Then an Aunt, a grandparent, my brother's 5 year old son and by 19 I was shooting it out and surviving in a combat zone. After the war I remember feeling how "done" I was with death.
Over the years helping people connect with loved ones has helped me with getting closer to having peace with death and your article does help me with this. So, thank you, thank you for writing.
Your comments always intrigue me, Christian, usually because of the depth of your thinking. You've experienced a lot of death and at such a young age. For this, I have sincere compassion and empathy for you. I'm glad this article added another puzzle piece to this puzzle for you. "Done with Death" is a great memoir title. First you experienced death, then you helped others deal with their experiences.
Your comments are timely because I've been considering teaching a course specifically for people who work with clients and patients dealing with loss. I bring it up because I wondered if most mediums would think they already know everything they need to know. And then your comment comes through with such authenticity and honesty that I realize that having the experiences mediums have only touches the surface of the greater afterlife picture, so the answer to my question is: There will be some mediums who know their experiences are limited and are open-minded enough to realize, "they don't know what they don't know." Thanks for sharing your story and your reaction to my article.
Love your articles bob
Thank you, Michael. I really appreciate that. Noticing you're a truck driver, if you haven't seen it, I thought you might enjoy this article I wrote about accompanying my father in his old Kenworth when I was a boy. It's not the lesson as much as the experience (the first half of the article) that I thought you might enjoy. https://bobolsonconnect.com/p/hiding-ants
I love this. Especially the last quote.. "While we are mourning the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to meet him behind the veil.” i wish i knew what i know now , when i lost so many family members in my life. But I believe it was meant to be this way, and i am living every day as if it were my last. Positivity and without fear. Thanks for these articles. I hope to pass the lessons onto others who are where i used to be in my beliefs.
Thanks Francine. You know, living each day as if it were your last is a great way to appreciate every moment. If find it hard to do since it's so easy to get swooped up by life, leading me to forget to think that way. But when I do, the day unfolds so much more magically. Thanks for the reminder.
Hi Bob,
I love this article. Thank you for spreading the word about death. I love the idea that the souls on the other side celebrate our return.
I wanted to mention that one reason people fear death may be that it is often the result of a catastrophe such as floods, earthquakes, gun violence, or car crashes. Those kinds of deaths seem to cause heartaches and people don’t allow themselves to think death might be planned that way. Just a thought.
Thanks for your work!! So needed.
Shari Harris
Hi Shari, Yes, some deaths are too painful to think about. In fact, your comment gives me the opportunity to note that the catastrophic deaths you mention are more about how one dies (the causes of death), whereas the subject of the article (death) is about the state of being dead (after one has died). As I said in my book, dying can be scary, but death is not, which we learn by exploring the afterlife. Thanks for prompting me to make that important distinction, and thanks for your kind words, as always.
I love reading your stories each and every week. Thank you for enlightening & inspiring so many.....🙏🏻
Thank you, Linda, for expressing that with such love and kindness. It means a lot.
I just love your writing! "Right then, a little blonde girl who sat diagonally across from me turned to me with a look of contempt that could have melted the metal buttons on my Roy Rogers cowboy shirt." Precious!!!
Thanks, Cheryl. That image even makes me laugh.