ON BREATHING UNDER WATER

After her teenage daughter Jenny died in a car crash, Mirabai Starr described grief as being “suspended in the invisible arms of a Love I had only dreamed of,” “drowning” but discovering she could breathe under water. -- Fr Richard Rohr, "Daily Meditation," April 5, 2019

I was touched upon reading "discovering she could breathe under water." I felt God smile on me...again. 

Some years ago in a dream I saw me as a child at the ocean, and I was drowning. I was under the ocean's waters, seeing fishes float by, and I was half afraid but not yet panicked. And I heard? felt? knew? that I need be not afraid, that I could just breathe...I could breath under water. And I did.

Somehow I knew that dream was important and of God so I "pocketed" it.

[Sidebar: It wasn't until 2011 that I learned that Fr Richard Rohr had written a book entitled "Breathing Under Water," and its direct contact was confirmed...to me at any rate.] 

In 2009, a beloved friend was dying of cancer, and she called one morning, crying. Her fear of death, specifically not being able to breathe, was causing her to feel claustrophobic...and terrified. So I shared my dream with her.  

Although none of us above the grass know for certain sure about our happenings when we enter the ether of the next world, daily we accept God's secrets that he relays in his own ways...you know, intuitions and coincidences, those "is it odd or is it God?" happenings. Personally, I consider my dream one of those secrets God imparts. 

I told my friend that I choose to believe the way of the dream is the way it is in death...we are free, breathing comfortably under earth or water, with the wind or through the fire. 

The story allayed her fears and comforted her. I believe that is how God passes on his secrets...word of mouth by way of love and laughter.

Thank you.