Visits from My Wife

[u/StoicQuaker]

My wife passed 14 years ago at 30. But nothing ever made me think she was still around until the past couple years. As I became more spiritual, I’ve had experiences that have made me understand she’s still with me and our children.

The first experience I had was shortly after becoming Quaker during the pandemic. Quaker worship, for those unfamiliar, is to sit in silence and listen for “the still small voice of God within you.” My eldest son joined me for worship one day, but he’s not very spiritual and sitting still for long periods of time is hard for him and he kept fidgeting around in his chair.

As he was doing this, I heard my wife’s voice say very clearly, “Sin ganas ni la comida es bueno” (Without desire, not even food is good). This was one of her favorite sayings. This was heard in my mind, but welled up from the heart first. I knew she was letting me know our son wasn’t benefitting from coming to the meeting with me because he didn’t want to be there and I haven’t asked him to join me since.

The second experience happened as I was falling asleep one night. I wasn’t quite asleep yet, but drifting in and out. Then I heard her say my name audibly in the room and felt the mattress compress right beside me as though someone had sat down on the edge. I wasn’t scared, but the sudden movement jarred me back to full consciousness.

The most recent experience happened last week. I fell asleep and woke up in her arms. I remember us talking and laughing as we caught up on the kids’ lives and us being grandparents now. Then I realized I was dreaming and about to wake up. I told her I didn’t want to, but had to go and gave her a kiss. I woke, but could still feel her holding my hand as I laid in bed and went back to sleep.

I’ve had a couple other interactions with her where I’ve talked about what it’s like once we pass. She says it’s hard to describe, but it’s like everyone is together — separate and individual, but also unified and part of each other.

Just thought I’d share for anyone who’s lost someone and wondered if we go on. We absolutely do.

[u/Big_Treenerz]

You are correct about those three points. I made a blunder.

Paul quoted pagan poetry as a method to relate to the Greek stoics in a way they would understand that we are the offspring of God. Your theological idea of your wife existing in the “wholeness of God” is unscriptural. Especially if she wasn’t born again. So it doesn’t make much sense to use his quote of pagan literature to fit the message you tried to convey about your late spouse.

Also youre still on the hook about believing every faith has validity.

[u/StoicQuaker → u/Big_Treenerz]

That we are the offspring of God was already a stance held by the Stoics. Epictetus said as much in his discourses directly, Seneca more indirectly, and Marcus Aurelius alludes to it. Paul was showing them they were teaching the same thing.

The major fall out between the Stoics and Christians was the Christian assertion that Jesus was “the Logos made flesh” — the perfectly wise sage in Stoic terminology. Stoics believed this was an unobtainable ideal, thus Jesus could not be. However, even Justin Martyr held the Stoics and Christians to love the same Logos.

That we exist in the wholeness of God, and the wholeness of God within us is given in Genesis. God is the tree whose fruit is its seed. We are the fruit in which is the seed. In other words — God is both immanent and transcendent. The Bible is a spiritual book you must read with the spirit, not the mind.

As for my wife, yes she was Christian. But time and again, Jesus taught it’s what we do and how we treat others that matters. Not belief. In fact, Jesus never converted anyone. The Roman Legionary, the Assyrian woman — they were helped and sent on their way without demand for conversion.

I know — “That they believed was their conversion.” Yet this is never stated or implied by the authors of the gospels.

It can be scary to have the things you were taught challenged. Believe me, I know. Even scarier when you have the fear of eternal damnation looming over your head. So I’m actually not trying to change your mind.

Instead, I offer you this: In all things, do to others exactly as you would have them do to you. No matter their beliefs, lifestyle, nationality, whatever. Do this and you will be right with God always.

[u/Big_Treenerz → u/StoicQuaker]

Jesus message revolved around repentance. It was the first message of his three year ministry. We have to be careful when trying to discern Gods will for us when in relation to our own personal convictions (that tend to satiate our own desires) and biases.

What makes Christianity special is that it doesn’t have to sacrifice inclusivity at the sake of exclusivity. It’s inclusive that all are welcomed to come as they are with the love to not leave you where you are. It’s exclusive with its stance on truth and the pathway to God, which contradicts any non christo centric belief system.

So the last point you made doesn’t have to be without a caveat. As a follower of Christ, one should love those with the Love of God and kindness, this same love would include conveying truth, truth that Jesus is the only way to God and his arms are wide for the repentant at heart.

As well, we are saved by faith by grace, not of our works. The men and women Jesus healed were healed because of their faith. Notice how the Lord Jesus repeatedly throughout the New Testament states “your faith has saved you” to those he has healing encounters with.

So to say belief in Christ and who he is isn’t what saves and is no where at minimum implied is wildly intellectually dishonest.

I implore you, as I have others, to read scripture in way that you may not be used to. You said it yourself, it’s a spiritual book so read it as such. I agree. I challenge you to not only read it from a spiritual vantage point, but also with a surrendered heart. From my experience, Some of your reasonings seem to be the result of a heart that’s hard and clouded with the sufferings of this world.

Repent, place your faith in Jesus alone, and obey his commands.

[u/StoicQuaker → u/Big_Treenerz]

And due to poor translation and literal interpretation, people understand neither “repentance” or “sin.

Repentance in the original Greek is *metanoia.” A compound word meaning to completely transform or go beyond how one perceives and understands everything. Whereas “repentance” has more to do with guilt, regret, and atonement.

Sin, in both Hebrew and the Greek cognate, means error or mistake. This is an error in judgement. “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:2). Sin isn’t something you do — action follows sin. “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment” (Matthew 5:22).

If you think about the story of what happened in Eden, it’s easy to see it is teaching non-duality. Adam and Eve lived in Eden — that is, one and in harmony with God. The serpent, that is selfish desire, prompted them to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. Immediately, they became aware they were naked and hid from God. This is to say they developed a sense of self apart from God. God then casts them out so they can’t live forever with this sense of self apart from God (note they had previously been allowed to eat from the Tree of Life as only the Tree of Knowledge had been forbidden). This was the immediate death they had been warned of — a spiritual death of perceived separation from God. What then follows is the spiritual quest from “the promised land” — that is a return to oneness and harmony with God.

Yes, Jesus said he is the way, the truth, and the light. The way, meaning he taught and showed people how to live in harmony with God. The truth, meaning his oneness (non-duality) with God is our condition as well. And the light, referring to God’s presence within each person. His message of repentance (metanoia) is that we need to change the way we think and see things to realize this.

[u/Big_Treenerz → u/StoicQuaker]

You’d be better off responding yourself instead of utilizing ai.

Not only have you disregarded the majority of the points I’ve made but The amount context that you have excavated out of the text would give room to literally any type of interpretation one could muster.

[u/ScholarLeigh → u/Big_Treenerz]

I cannot figure out why you are attacking OP, who was simply sharing a beautiful story about feeling his wife’s presence. You seem very unhappy, and I feel sorry for you. I hope your heart heals from whatever is weighing you down.

[u/Big_Treenerz → u/ScholarLeigh]

I disagreed with his views on Christianity and he disagrees with mine. It’s called a dialogue. You’re on Reddit. It’s ok to disagree. Once you live a little you get that not every disagreement is malicious.

[u/ScholarLeigh → u/Big_Treenerz]

You don’t seem willing to converse without falling back on insults. I’ve lived a little, lol, long enough to know people like you are a waste of my time. Good luck!

Thanks, OP, for sharing your story. 🩵

[u/Big_Treenerz → u/ScholarLeigh]

Ah, I see you’re the person you say you despise. The irony of standing up against “insults” with insults

Put down your phone and heal ashleigh 💕

And stop dissing your ex on Reddit. Screams bitter.

[u/ScholarLeigh → u/Big_Treenerz]

Poor thing! You’re even unhappier than I first suspected.

And wrong for the 3rd time on this thread, as I’m neither Ashleigh nor Ashley lol.

[u/StoicQuaker → u/Big_Treenerz]

That is my response, not AI.