Ben's Blog

(a quote from William Shakespear, an old English dude)

I went to hospital on New Years Eve last year. I was there on-and -off for about 6 weeks. So l missed all the smoke, which is good, but while l was there l died, which is bad. But it was only for a few minutes, which is good.

Of course everyone asks me about my experience while l was ‘dead.’

But being an atheist and all that l didn’t experience much at all.

Except for one brief encounter with the nether world;

While l am hovering above my body, as one does, two very well dressed young men approach my bedside. Even though l am quite a bit dead, l pick them for Mormons straight away. (still got my faculties) The nice young men get chatting, as they do.

I am not going anywhere so l half listen to their shaggy dog story.

They are really boring, so l pipe up: “Come on fellas, cut to the chase.”

That’s when they offer me ‘The deal’. They say to my face:

“Look mate, truth is, you’re not very well. In fact you’re dead, technically speaking.”

l look a bit shocked at this point, so they hold my hand and say:

“Don’t worry, death is OK, we’re dead, do we look worried?”

They both have grins from ear to ear.

“So here is the deal. You can go back to life if you really want to, but personally we wouldn’t recommend it. By the look of all these gauges and monitors hanging off you, your odds of surviving are somewhere between Buckleys & Nun.

Even if you did manage to squeeze a few more years out of that poor decrepit body of yours, (they were laying it on pretty thick, all part of the spiel) you would be spending your twilight years there on earth with what can only be described as a bunch of degenerates and ne’er-do-wells: blasphemers, heretics and infidels, one and all.

On the other hand, if you choose Immortality, you get to spend the rest of Eternity here in Paradise with us ….and all the other Mormons that have ever lived.

You have to admit, we are fun guys. Have a think about it. No rush.”

Well l do think about it, don’t l? An offer like this comes around but once in a lifetime.

After quite a few very pensive seconds l say:

“Look fellas, l have enjoyed your little visit. It has made my day actually,

but after careful consideration, l have decided to take my chances back there in Sodom & Gomorrah, with the heathens and the riff-Raff, the lost souls and the woe-be-gone. No offense or anything. Thanks for the offer.”

Then l get hit with one almighty electric shock and l come back to life.