The third miraculous event (see post 60 for the first 2) after my Transfiguration sermon rivals the appearance of Moses and Elijah in its supernatural conformation of life after death. Leonard, a member of my UMC church in NY State, was a retired construction baron. He was anxious about the health problems of his brother and cousin. So I first visited his brother at the Veteran's hospital and then visited Leonard to discuss whether to visit his cousin across the road who was dying a lonely death of cancer and felt too depressed to receive visitors. Leonard was not home when I dropped by, but the contrast suddenly struck me between his grief over his brother and cousin's condition and his lack of grief over the recent loss of his son Jeff, Jeff's wife Karen, and their 2 children in a small plane crash. So I carefully mentioned to Leonard's wife Helen that Leonard seemed to be coping very well with that plane crash. Helen stunned me with her reply: "Oh, that's because his son's family visited him after their death. But Leonard doesn't like to talk about that." Curious, the next time I saw Leonard, I took the liberty of asking him about this post-mortem "visit" and this is the astounding experience he shared.
After the funeral, Leonard was about to drive Jeff's pick-up to town for supplies. As he approached the end of his long driveway, a figure arose from the ditch and approached Leonard's driver side. It was his son Jeff!! Jeff asked, "Hi, Dad, do you mind if I drive my old pick-up for old times' sake?" A shell-shocked Leonard agreed and Jeff drove down Route 40 towards Rochester. Jeff first assured his Dad that he, Karen, and their kids were OK and together on their post-mortem journey and then detailed where his investments were to help Leonard settle his estate. After a few miles, Jeff turned right down a less traveled highway a few miles until he came to a large clump of trees. There he wistfully turned to his Dad and said, "I'm sorry Dad, but I'm not permitted to drive any further." As I heard this, I wondered who was guided Jeff's "visit." Jeff got out of the truck, walked towards the clump of trees, and dematerialized. A dazed Leonard then drove the truck home.
Leonard said that Jeff's "visit" didn't help his grief much because in retrospect the experience seemed like a dream. The next day, Leonard's grief prompted him to go on a walk on the path through the woods behind his house. At one point, he was overwhelmed by tears and had to sit down on a log to compose himself. Just then, he heard a branch crack and he was approached by a young woman. It was his son's wife Karen!! She gently chided Leonard: "What are yu doing here? Didn't we tell you we were all OK and together? You get back in the house and comfort Mom!" Leonard told me this 2nd "visit" is what helped ease his grief over the loss of his son Jeff and his family.
Leonard was pained by the incredulous expression on my face and I felt badly because I had prodded him to share his "visit." I apologized, saying, "I'm sorry Leonard; I believe you, but I just need some time to process the miraculous encounter you just just shared. Have you shared this experience with your 2 daughters?" He said, "No, because I'm afraid they'd think I'm crazy." I soon took a pastorate in Buffalo, and eventually heard of Leonard's passing. I was told that his daughter shared this experience at his memorial service. I was glad that Leonard took my advice and shared this experience with her.
should do. 
