I had several books that I wanted to read this past summer, but I only got one completed. I am glad that it was the book by Don Piper called "90 Minutes in Heaven." This is a true story of a horrific car accident in 1989. A semi truck hit him head on and he died instantly.
Don tries to describe the indescribable of what he experienced in the 90 minutes that he lay dead inside the ruins of his car. He describes seeing people who had influenced his life as a Christian, and the joy and peace he felt being with them. He had a beautiful reunion with loved ones and friends. He describes the sounds and what he saw, although he keeps admitting that earthly descriptions could not compare.
A minister, who was in the traffic jam that was the result of Piper's accident, feels compelled to get out of his car and check out the accident scene. He is told that they are just waiting for the coroner to come take the body. The minister asks if he can pray over the body. The medical personnel warn him that the scene is horrific, but the minister goes anyway. He crawls through the back window and grabs the hand of the dead man. He prays and then he feels the need to pray that the man will have no internal injuries or brain damage. As the minister is singing "What a Friend we have in Jesus", Don Piper comes back to life and is singing along.
The incredible part of this story is the horrible pain and suffering that Piper endures as a result of the accident. He was in the hospital for 105 days, and had numerous surgeries. He asks over and over why God brought him back. When he was in heaven he had no regret or sadness for what he left behind., just peace. To come back and be in such intense pain was often depressing and frustrating. God had a plan for Don Piper, but Don admits he did not want to live. He believes it was through the fervent prayers of others that he is here today. Don is living out God's plan by ministering to others who have experienced severe pain.
There were many ways in which this book touched my life. The glimpse of heaven that Don describes has given me great peace. I wept as I read about his welcoming committee and the love and joy he felt as he was greeted by each person. He did not experience any regret or desire to go back to earth. It is comforting to know there is no fear or sadness in that moment. I can't help but think about who will be my welcoming party. I look forward to seeing my Grandma Ruby.
Don Piper was in such pain that he wished he had never come back. He asks God many times why, and I got the feeling that perhaps Don still has not grasped the answer to that question. I think Don is humbled and amazed that God would use his life to touch thousands of people through his accident. He has reached out to others in severe pain and given them hope and peace. Don's life has certainly been the epitome of God being concerned more about character than comfort.
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.
1Peter 5:6-7
In this past year I have often wondered why God would take me (of all people) and use my experience with cancer to reach out to others. Like Don, I am humbly amazed that God would use an ordinary and flawed person such as myself to be a voice of faith and hope for Christ. Most people will go through life never knowing their purpose for being on this earth. I guess Don and I are two of the lucky ones.
If you are struggling with pain or the loss of a loved one, I hope you read this book and find comfort through Don Piper's testimony.
Sandy
