In July of 1997, I had a near death incident in northern Arizona. On a Sunday morning, I went for a ride on my horse in the mountains behind my home. My two dogs joined me. I came home safely, dismounted, and called to my dogs as they were coming up the hill behind me.
I heard a gunshot and saw my neighbor holding a rifle. A second shot fired, I was shot. A .45 caliber bullet pierced my ribcage. The bullet hit my lungs, liver, diaphragm, and stomach and lodged in my liver. It missed my heart by an inch.
My heart pounded with fear, yet I felt calm though death was near. I prayed for help and my prayer was answered as I saw my husband and son running from the house. I told them what happened. I will never forget the look of shock on their face.
Later, my husband said he heard a death curdling scream. I never screamed! This was impossible as I barely had enough breath to stay alive. My prayers were given Voice. This was the miracle that saved my life.
The death curdling scream was what moved my husband to come running to the barn. Divine intervention was the Voice.
I was flown in a helicopter to the trauma hospital in Phoenix. I spent two weeks in intensive care on full life support. I was not expected to survive. I underwent two major surgeries to repair the damaged organs.
I remember coming home from the hospital. I could not walk. I cried with joy to be alive and home. I couldn't wait to put my feet on the earth, to smell the fragrance in the air and to touch the soft blades of grass.
After six months I was strong enough to walk to the barn and sit on my horse. The movement of the horse in the round pen simulated therapeutic walking and helped me heal.
It has been 10 years since that traumatic day. I have gone through extensive healing of not only the physical body, but emotional and spiritual as well. It has been a long journey. Healing is a process, not something to be gained and forgotten.
The most important thing learnt from this experience is forgiveness. In forgiveness there is healing and there is truth. In truth there is peace.
To find peace, face the truth in all things. See things for what they are, instead of what you want them to be. Open your heart and be willing to forgive. By doing so, any chore becomes an act of self-mastery with divine love as the guiding light by which all actions begin and end.
Please note: I am by no means a master, nor do I have all the answers. What I share is my journey in hopes that it will offer strength and courage for everyone to continue on their spiritual path.
Namaste, Pamela Wingedwolf Au
