Divine Moments; Ordinary People Having Spiritually Transformative Experiences

There are now scores of books about near-death experiences, those brief excursions into a realm of unutterable peace, complete acceptance and absolute love that have inspired so many of us who have learned about these transcendent states reported by many thousands of individuals who have survived such journeys and lived to tell about them. But there are relatively few books, such as Nancy Clark's Divine Moments, that recount the stories of people who have had the same kind of transformative experience without coming close to death. Indeed, the evidence suggests that there are many more such people - surely millions of them - who have had essentially the same kind of spiritual revelation in any number of ways, none of them associated with any near-death crisis, that the near-death experience affords. Because of the inherent drama associated with near-death experiences, however, and the fact they have been studied by doctors and other professionals and featured so often on television, they have received a great deal of attention over the past 35 years or so, ever since Raymond Moody published his ground-breaking book on the subject, Life After Life. And because Moody labeled these episodes "near-death experiences," those who had them could easily be identified by this term. But the persons who have had the same kind of experience without its being triggered by the onset of death, because they have never had a similar label applied to them and are therefore much more difficult to identify, have largely been overlooked. Indeed, I know from my own experience that they have sometimes been made to feel that their own stories have been slighted, both by researchers and the general public, simply because theirs were not occasioned by the drama of a near-death event. This omission is finally being rectified and it is the signal contribution of Nancy Clark's book to bring to a wider public many of these stories, which she rightly calls "spiritually transformative experiences," or, alternatively, "near-death-like experiences." Clark has diligently searched for such people - "ordinary people," for the most part, she says - who were wiling to tell her their stories, and in this book she presents over 40 of them. The reader soon sees that these people for the most part describe experiences that replicate classic near-death experiences, and, perhaps even more important, tend to lead to the same kind of changes afterward - greater compassion for others and reverence for all life, wanting to be of service to others, decreased materialism, loss of the fear of death, etc. These testimonies that Clark has compiled are deeply moving and very inspirational to read. But there is far more in this book than an anthology of inspirational stories. And that is because of the author herself has had not only a near-death experience in connection with the birth of one of her children, where she was actually left for dead, but some years later, in 1979, an even more profound spiritually transformative experience while - of all things! - delivering a eulogy for a dear friend. In one chapter of her book - a chapter that is so luminous that it seems to be written in words of light - Clark describes both of these extraordinary encounters with the divine, and to me, this chapter alone would make the book worth reading. And what you find throughout this book, in this chapter and in some of the others that the author has written, is a distillation of Clark's spiritual understanding, which is profound. Though Clark is modest and writes with a great humility, she has obviously become a spiritual teacher and this book both begins and ends by offering the reader important spiritual truths about the nature and snares of the ego and, in contrast, the bliss and blessings of the true self, which is to be found in experiences like those she describes in this book. These chapters of Clark's give the reader so much spiritual treasure that one can only be grateful to the author for sharing her own hard-won wisdom as well as the many wonderful stories she has provided in this bountiful collection.

Thank you Nancy Clark! I was going to wait until I finished actually reading the book to write a review but my excitement and the impact it is already having on me, can't wait. I am actually one of the experiencers who share their own story in the book.What better way to share my thoughts, thus far, than the personal email that I sent to Nancy this evening. I will say before I share this, that Nancy has done such a great job setting the stage if you will, for the non-experiencer. As I read through her own story and her thorough explanations, I felt like I was being welcomed into a comfortable place, where anyone from any background, creed, or religion (or not) would be comfortable and "at home" here within these pages and paragraphs.One of the most valuable things I have learned after having an near death like experience, is that we need inspiration - and I tell you even as an experiencer myself, this book and the personal accounts of so many different people, are truly inspirational.These stories tell us supreme fundamental truth, that you don't always get every day and when you read them, they will resonate within your own spirit and rekindle a fire that we are so often distracted from.Here is my email to Nancy this evening.NancyI just got in a while ago from flying into to St. Louis and then driving 2 hours to the town I am working in currently in southern Illinois. I have been reading the book over the past several days and while I am nowhere being finished something wonderful is taking place.I have been seeking God more than I have in such a long time and I know He is answering prayers. I have so longed to have another encounter with Him, one that would cause the near death like experience to pale in comparison. The stories I am reading are part of something, a catalyst perhaps that is bringing me to such a divine place.Ever since the experience there was one thing that assured me of His presence that I can tap into whenever I choose and that is what I consider to be literal electricity radiating throughout my body. It usually starts at the top of my head and goes throughout my upper body. These past few days/weeks that feeling, that experience has been switched to another level - because it happens often without much effort on my part. It reminds me of the knowledge I gained while I was in heaven and how the billions of angels were praising God. I knew if it were possible there was no music/praise, and Heaven was quiet, and just one had the beginnings of a thought to praise Him, all of Heaven simultaneously would erupt in a mighty and beautiful chorus of pure and ecstatic praise. Its compelling. I am experiencing that feeling now as I type. I am so grateful and thankful. My heart is becoming so tender and my eyes are no longer dry!!!I have and continue to pray for His Agape love, and I feel that welling up in me, and I am so thankful and grateful.I don't know what else to say except thank you for putting this work together, for taking the time and effort you have to bring these stories together in one book. Surely there are many books out there, but it took you listening to your heart and to God to follow through even in the middle of many challenges. I am so grateful.I will continue to finish the book and will definitely write a review when I am done.From one experiencer to the next, thank you, thank you.LoveTim Hill

I loved this book and recommend it to any and all who are interested in NDE-like experiences......I call them mystical and life-changing experiences. Having had my own experience many years ago, I have found that I am always looking for others that might have had something similiar to what I experienced. The stories Nancy included stand on their own and are as diversified and personal as the people who experienced and wrote of them. What I found remarkable is how the the entire book seemed to flow seamlessly as one. All stories were credible and inspiring. I think that even if I had not had my own experience that these stories would tell me of how each and every one of us is loved beyond a shadow of a doubt by God, Creator, Love, Source or whatever name you hold for our Beautiful Creator. We, each and every one of us, are so much more than how we think of ourselves and through these individual stories, we want to strive harder to live up to the Truth of how our Father loves us. And as uplifting and inspiring as this book is, there is at the same time a quiet Surety that brings a Peacefulness, also. I am so looking forward to Nancy's next book!!

You've heard of NDEs, this is a book about STEs (Spiritually Transformative Experiences). STEs are bits of an NDE experience in the waking or sleeping state without illness, injury, or death. If you've had an STE, you will find a community of shared stories in this book.