Perspectives

By Jane Vlasblom

Battered by a car accident, Sage is drifting in and out of consciousness.  As alarms sound and medical teams work on her body, Sage feels herself rising until she can look down on the mayhem below.

In her altered state, Sage hears a voice that offers to help her make a decision about whether to stay on earth or to go Home.  Tog

• Language: English
• Publisher: Burnstown Publishing House
• Release date: Dec 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9781772570533

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Burnstown, Ontario K0J 1G0

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Copyright © 2015

Jane Vlasblom

PERSPECTIVES

ISBN: 978-1-77257-052-6 (PB)

ISBN: 978-1-77257-053-3 (eBook)

All rights reserved. Except in the case of brief quotations embodied in a critical review and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher or author, or, in the case of photocopying or other reprographic copying, a licence from Access Copyright (Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency), www.accesscopyright.ca.

One Yonge Street, Suite 800, Toronto, Ontario, M5E 1E5.

Cataloguing data available at

Library and Archives Canada, Cataloguing in Publication (CIP)

Editor: J. Karchmar

Cover and Interior Design: W.D. Clements

Published and Printed in Canada.

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PERSPECTIVES is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

PERSPECTIVES

JANE VLASBLOM

Chapter 1

THE PAIN WAS unbearable. Sage felt herself drifting in and out of consciousness, causing the pain to seem intermittent. Sage was accustomed to emotional pain but not physical. Her arm was mangled into a peculiar angle, and her shoulder was out of its socket. Blood streamed down her face. Nothing in her life had prepared her for this situation: a thirty-nine-year-old mother facing death.

The day to that point had been anxiety-ridden. She did some errands in an attempt to keep her mind off the earlier events of the past twenty-four hours and she was rushing home to be with her daughters. Her emotional focus had been that of dread and resignation over the loss of control of her life; and of her love and appreciation for her daughters, who gave her life the only meaning it had left. Sage had been both miserable and happy for as long as she could remember.

What’s happening? Sage could feel herself drifting into unconsciousness when she heard shouting.

Can you hear me? an unfamiliar voice asked loudly, perhaps for the second time. It sounded like that of a young woman, but Sage was not sure of anything. She’s losing blood. We’ll need help getting her out of the car, she said with the calm urgency of a person in charge. Get the collar.

When Sage was a child, she was tall and skinny, with long arms and legs that gave her a gangly look. As an adult, she had the same look but without the awkwardness. She had a pretty face with large blue eyes that distracted from her otherwise plain features. Now her long, brown, thin hair hid her face, and she wanted to push it back out of her eyes; but she couldn’t command her hands to move. The paramedic tugged on it as she placed the collar on her neck, and Sage felt the pain on her sensitive scalp as each hair was pulled.

Sage was now shouting at the woman she realized was a paramedic—asking her what was happening—but her silent exclamations went unacknowledged. All Sage could do was listen to the conversations around her. It had been a while since she last asked God for help but now she quickly prayed for an end to her pain.

Is she going to be all right? another unrecognizable voice asked from behind the young woman. It sounded to Sage like an older man speaking. The car swerved right in front of me, just twenty-five feet away. I barely had time to hit the brakes. His voice cracked with emotion.

A second male voice that was both strong and soothing intervened. Sir, please step away from the car. We can’t tell you anything at this time. I will be with you soon. Based on the tone of authority, Sage judged the second voice to be either another paramedic or a police officer. She strained to hear what he said as his voice faded away. Sage was unsure of whom he was speaking to when she heard him again, Sir, were you injured?

No, was the quick reply.

You didn’t hit your head when you went into the ditch?

No. Sage sensed he was trembling. It was so sudden. I knew that car must be totalled by the way it rolled, and she’d be lucky to get out at all. I ran over to her right away. I didn’t want to try to move her. I asked her what her name was, and she told me it’s Sage—and then she closed her eyes and moaned. The man was obviously very upset.

The calmer voice said firmly, Sir, how did you get out of the truck?

The emotional voice sounded less upset as his focus changed. I had to climb out the window. Thankfully my load is light today, or I could have skidded much farther and hit those trees.

I am going to request another ambulance to come to take you to the hospital. Judging by the look of your truck, you could have some internal injuries.

Sage could not hear any more of their conversation as it faded away. They must be walking away again.

Sage was suddenly aware of the steering wheel pushed up against her chest and she couldn’t catch her breath. She opened her eyes. There was broken glass on her arm and powder from the airbag covering her face and chest. The oxygen mask that was snapped onto her face should have been a relief to her but she tried to pull it off, feeling that it was choking her. Her hands did not respond to her attempt. She could feel the hands of the paramedic poking and prodding and heard her murmuring to someone else … or maybe it was to her. Again, Sage wondered, What happened?

It was coming back to her in bits. She could remember the truck driving toward her car in its own lane. The road was dry and the sky was clear. There was no obvious cause for the accident. Then Sage remembered her last thought before the accident. If I hit this truck, all my problems would be over. She lost consciousness.

When Sage awoke, she recognized the sounds of hospital machinery and felt the mask on her face and felt the pain of needles in her arm as she attempted to move. Her breathing was much easier. It seemed to her only minutes had passed, but clearly she had been unconscious for a while.

Mom, it’s Grace. You’re in the hospital. You need to stay still for now. Just rest. I am here for you. She felt her thirteen-year-old daughter’s hand on hers and she was sure that her youngest daughter was continuing to say more, but Sage drifted into a trance.

She felt her body slowly rising above the bed until she was near the ceiling. She could see what was happening in the hospital room below her, although her eyes were definitely closed. She felt a pull upwards, farther away from her body. The appeal of that tug was an exhilarating sense of new freedom. She heard alarms sound. Again, she wondered, What’s happening?

Hello, Sibajak.

This voice was new to her, deep and melodious, strong but kind.

I am Poloa. I am here to help you to decide.

Sage sensed someone around her, a male presence. The soothing tone contrasted to the shouting voices of the many doctors and nurses who had arrived in response to the alarms and red warning lights. She could see the top of Grace’s head, focused on the body of her mother in front of her, not realizing that Sage was above her, looking down.

She had never heard the name Sibajak before, but she knew the voice was speaking to her. Without intending to have an imaginary conversation, she mentally answered in the same way. My name is Sage.

Sage, do you know who I am?

No. I can’t see you.

Do you know where you are?

The hospital.

Part of you is still in the hospital, but you, Sibajak, have returned Home.

Home?

Yes, you have returned Home to make your decision.

What are you talking about? Sage struggled to understand.

The voice continued. Before you decide, you can look at the events that led you to the moment before the accident. We can look at your life, the meaning of what has happened, what you have learned, and what you intended to learn.

What do you mean?

Every life has a purpose and a Plan, and your life Plan for growth was very ambitious. You can decide to return to Earth as Sage if you feel your work has not been advanced to your satisfaction.

My work?

Yes, that will become clear as we proceed.

Are you saying I can live here? Is this Heaven?

Yes. Sage made this same decision earlier in life and decided to stay on Earth. Do you recall?

No. I don’t know what you are talking about and I don’t know who you are. Sage was so confused and anxious that she wanted to shout at the presence to leave her alone but she somehow knew she needed to hear more.

Calmly, the male presence communicated to her, I am Poloa and I have been your Guide in the life you have been living as Sage.

SAGE RETURNED HER focus to the hospital room below and saw two nurses and a doctor run into the room with a cart filled with medical equipment that they quickly hooked up to her body. Sage could see Grace looking at her body, obviously struggling to comprehend her condition. A doctor and two nurses worked frantically, and Grace stepped away from the bed. The look on her face showed the fear she felt. Sage loved her so much and wanted to wrap her arms around her and tell her everything would be okay.

Sage, what do you see here? Poloa asked to help her to return her focus to her current state. The sound of the alarm returned to Sage’s consciousness, but she ignored it to continue her conversation with Poloa.

Sage looked around with her mind’s eye. Instead of a hospital room, she saw surroundings that were more beautiful than anything she had ever seen before; a lush landscape filled with greens of every tone, a slow-flowing river with softly sloping banks, and the brightest blue sky dotted with small, fluffy, white clouds surrounding a bright, radiant sun. Sage noticed a wide red stone path along the river. She followed it in her mind and saw flourishing gardens with colours that were so bright they were luminous. The river sparkled with reflecting sunlight and babbled softly as the water gently flowed over the smooth rocks that covered the riverbed. The smell of orange blossoms drifted by in the warm, summery breeze she felt. Beyond the gardens the path curved toward the front terrace of a house made of light grey and brown stone, just like the one Sage lived in as a young child. She reached the terrace and turned to survey the beautifully manicured gardens and the dark green lawn. It was just like her childhood home but perfect.

She turned around to face the front of the house. I’ve missed this house. The black wooden door had a bronze knocker in the shape of a lion’s head. The eight large windows of the first and second floors were evenly spaced on either side of the door. Above the door were two windows rounded at the top and accentuated by a peak on the roof. Sage walked up to the door, opened it, and stepped into her childhood home. In the central hall there was a staircase with a long, smooth, wooden banister that she and her sister Adele slid down at what seemed then to be great speed. The house was large and equipped for two families; another family moved into the other side of the house, and Sage and Adele had four girls living with them for a few years. They welcomed having friends living so close to them because the nearest house seemed to be miles away.

In the summer months, they all enjoyed running around the abandoned barns on the property, exploring the woods and swimming in the pond. In the winter, they got together after dinner in the central hall to play May I? or just to ride the banister. The house Sage wandered through with her mind reminded her of a time she remembered fondly, regardless of the circumstances that made her parents want to leave. There were several big, empty rooms upstairs that they could run through and play in during the day; at night, they were dark and a little scary for the young girls. A staircase at the back of the house led to the kitchen; so they could run in a continuous loop or play hide and seek indoors during the cold winter months.

Sage’s Guide broke into her thoughts: You will need some time to acclimate to the new surroundings. I will address you as ‘Sage’ until you have recalled your true identity. As you requested, your Earth family is here.

Before Sage could ask any questions, her grandparents were greeting her with loving and comforting words. They had lived across the ocean, and Sage had never met them. She knew that she had missed a great deal by not having her grandparents live nearby, but it was normal for her. Although she was pleased to see them, it was the reunion with Adele that elated her. She had always adored her big sister and wanted to be just like her. Adele had her dark hair in long, thick braids that Sage envied. She especially envied the time their mother took with her to brush and braid her hair each morning. Adele was the same height as Sage, who had always been tall for her age. Under the thick, dark eyebrows, Adele had big, green eyes and soft, round cheeks. Her wide smile lit up her pretty face.

Adele was eleven and Sage was nine again, both wearing the shorts and T-shirts that their mother tried to persuade them to give up in favour of the dresses they wore to church. She and Adele began exploring the house, reacquainting themselves with the old homestead. They headed to the right through the large wooden door at the bottom of the staircase and entered the living room with the natural wood fireplace, then through the massive sliding pocket doors that separated it from the dining room. Sage stopped suddenly. She again sensed Poloa’s presence. Adele was gone, and so was the house. Sage recalled the words of Poloa before her reunion.

Why did you call me Sibajak? she asked.

You are Sibajak. Sage is the name you were given in the lifetime you have now, but your real name is Sibajak, replied Poloa.

Do I know you from somewhere?

I have been your Guide while you acted in the life of Sage. I was with you every step of the way. I am still here to help you.

Help me with what? Is it the decision you said I need to make?

Yes. You have left your body but you can still choose to return to it.

It’s my choice?

Yes.

Can I stay here? I love being here with Adele.

Yes you can … but you wanted to consider returning to Earth to fulfill your Plan.

I planned this accident?

In a manner of speaking.

But my body is so broken now. That car accident caused a lot of pain and damage. How is recovery possible?

Your heart has been damaged, but it is possible.

I really don’t understand.

Poloa’s voice continued to soothe Sage. You will. Let’s start your life review, and you will soon realize how important the Plan is to you. Of course, staying here is very appealing, and you will return eventually—it’s just that you may want to continue Sage’s life and fulfill your Plan.

I don’t want the review. Can there be anything better than what I have here? Again, she could see her childhood home and feel the sense of fun and adventure with Adele.

Poloa interrupted her thoughts. What you are experiencing with Adele is wonderful for Sage. This is her idea of Heaven, and so this is what you see. And, anything else desired is as close and as wonderful as your mind and imagination.

The idea that Sage could create this beautiful dream home with her own imagination was quite a bit to comprehend. Are you saying that all I need to do is tap my ruby slippers together and I can have anything I choose? Being in the house had reminded her of the special nights when the girls could watch The Wizard of Oz in front of the black-and-white television.

You can create ruby slippers to tap together if you like, but you don’t need them, was the amused reply.

Poloa apparently had an understanding of the Wizard of Oz reference made by Sage. Could he be all-knowing—at least about me? Sage thought to herself. Sage had not actually asked Poloa but he seemed to know what she was thinking, as if their minds were joined.

He responded, Yes, I have been aware of all Sage’s thoughts and feelings, and I know everything that she learned and valued. That is to say, I was aware of the essence of the contents of her mind. I knew when she was happy, sad, angry, proud, grateful, loving, anxious, and disappointed. I knew when she contemplated ideas about religion, God, life in general, and specific events. Her life work was under my guidance. We communicated whenever she would listen to me, and I was always ready to communicate the lessons she needed to learn.

He continued, "So, yes, I know about the Wizard of Oz and how it fascinated Sage as she ate her supper in front of the television for the special annual occasion, something that was never allowed by her mother otherwise. At first, when she was quite young, the show was confusing for her as she tried to understand the concept of witches and flying monkeys appearing in Dorothy’s life, even though Dorothy was a good girl in Sage’s view. It was a great relief to her when she was older and understood that it was a dream."

Sage remembered watching the show just as he described it.

So you can see that I am qualified to give the review. The outcome is entirely up to you. I am here to assist you but not to control you in any way. You always had free will to choose as you pleased on Earth and you do here, as well. You are free to choose to continue or to move on to your next experience.

Another experience? Sage repeated. Why would I want to leave this? This is Heaven, right? What could ever be better? Sage realized she could say what was on her mind and ask Poloa anything; she trusted he would answer truthfully.

Patiently, he replied, Well, first of all, you can never leave Heaven. It is not a place, but a state of being—that is to say, a level of consciousness or awareness. Second, you are clearly pleased with this experience, but once you remember the infinite number of choices available to you, you will again feel that urge to learn, explore, expand, and grow. We all have it. You are still in the thinking perspective of form, but with our review you will remember more about your Plan and your real life.

Sage felt a sense of panic as her ever-present analytical mind took over. She didn’t know what factors to consider. She was uncertain. She didn’t know if she was dead or alive, in Heaven, or just dreaming. She felt a strange sense of being awake within a dream. It felt as if whatever was happening to her was out of her control, yet she was somehow directing it to happen. This was a feeling she did not remember experiencing and yet it seemed familiar.

Sage, I will help you as needed, was the soothing response. I have access to all the information you need. You have lived a wonderful lifetime, and we will look at it together from the perspective you refused to accept for much of Sage’s life.

Wonderful? Are you sure you have the right life? Sage joked. She realized she had not joked much lately, and it felt good to remember her earlier, happier self.

Did you live the life of Sage Natalie Silje Bastien? Poloa responded with amusement.

Yes, she answered with a smiling nod. But I do not want the review now. I want to enjoy this time in my life.

Sage, do you remember the day after your appendectomy, and the nurses wanted you to get up and walk? You hesitated at first because you felt weak and sore and tired. They told you that you would get better faster if you took a walk around the ward. You instantly got up with their assistance because you wanted to speed your recovery. This situation is similar.

Sage was a little annoyed that he knew just the right thing to say to persuade her. She felt somewhat manipulated, a familiar feeling, but trusted his motives. She replied, I know that my life was blessed in many ways, but there was so much stress and agony at times. I guess I hesitate because I don’t want to relive all the pain.

Poloa again offered the right reassurance. Hesitation has been a factor in Sage’s life, but you can end that. When you witness this life rather than experience it, there is no pain. If you will remember that, as we review, you will be observing Sage rather than reliving her life, you will be fine. The new perspective gained with the review of your life on the third plane is of great value.

What is the third plane? Sage wanted to know.

That isn’t important right now. Let’s just say it is what you called Earth; it’s the world of form—that is to say, physical bodies and objects, Poloa explained. Let’s begin. We can pause at any time or place that you choose.

What about my body? How long can it survive while we do this review?

That isn’t a concern. Many hours and days can be experienced as a few minutes in terms of Earth time. Your body will be the same as you left it if you return. Relax your mind and you will soon be ready to think clearly.

Sage felt her tension instantly dissolve. Okay. I’m not sure I will like this, but if you say it will help me, let’s begin.

Chapter 2

Sage felt another wave of hesitation. She felt on the verge of a new journey and she had no idea with whom she was going. Are we related in some way?

We have a well-established association, Poloa assured her.

Sage decided not to pursue this last statement. Nothing was making sense to her, regardless of the explanations Poloa gave her. You speak very formally.

That is in deference to your needs. You believe a Guide would speak and sound like your imagined version of Solomon, and so I speak formally. As well, my last incarnation began in the 1800s and I have assumed my most recent language skills to represent my communications.

You have lived on Earth before?

Yes, all Guides have. We could not guide you well without a comprehension of the many aspects of life on Earth. We have developed enough that we can stay and help others before we move on. It is a choice for us as well. But we are not here to discuss Poloa. He paused for the further questions he sensed Sage might ask and then continued his talk.

To continue, a review consists of the replaying of scenes of your life. We could use any method you prefer, but knowing you as I do, I suggest looking upon scenes as if on a stage and you are in the audience. You can ‘zoom in,’ so to speak, or step back. Your focus is a choice as well, but I am with you to offer a different perspective to the normal human perspective. Is my explanation comprehensible to you?

Can I put myself on the stage?

It is possible to relive any moment, but that would not provide the new viewpoint you need in order to decide. You have already looked at your life from a human perspective, and you will now use a soul perspective.

Will we look at every moment of my life?

No, you select scenes that are significant. I will prod you with questions to recall certain ones, and if you do not recall them, we will move on.

Okay, I guess. Let’s begin.

Sage, before you can process the information the review provides, you need to understand some principles of life on the third plane—or Earth, as you would prefer to say.

I did well in science so I think I can handle whatever you have to say.

Your studies in school and the use of logic and reason are not the required skills for this session. Sage, I need you to open your mind as you listen to some basics. It is typical for humans to adopt a self-centred viewpoint—that is to say, as if the world had been created just to affect each individual.

"I don’t think I have been so self-centred. I have done so much for my girls and I