From Michael and H.R.H. Princess Monique United Kingdom.
Dear Mr.Editor,
There have been many books written about the future course of the inhabitants of planet Earth.Some are fiction, some are non fiction and others could be termed as visionary. Certainly books written by Jules Verne or H,G..Wells spoke of mans future capability to engage science and evolving technologies to ascend and transcend the Universe. Such books written at a time when man had barely evolved from the advantage of wheeled travel, surely are most remarkable and remain inspired and visionary beyond normal imagination. Much of there visionary content from there respective imagination, have now become reality. Other books,written engage the theory of commercial exchange and governance of the population,aspiring to construct civilisations towards progress through reform.The modern day examples of such inspired thought are represented by considered opinion such as Karl Marks, or indeed Adam Smith. A less inspiring thought process of mans capability to inflict order and authority on society, is contained within George Orwells vision through his novel 1984.
Todays society,can find traces of all these inspired thoughts and visions, whether in the local community,or in international discourse. It remains a matter of opinion as to which represents the true spirit of mankind.
The foundation of mans belief in a spirit higher than us mere Earthlings, is contained in The Holy Bible,or
The Holy Koran and indeed other spritual and religious faiths and written doctrines. As a Christian from a Christian background, my view of The Bible, is of a book which contains all 3 elements of fiction, non fiction and visionary passages which have inspired and conspired to encourage man to follow the path of God. As Western civilisation has progressed rapidly, especially since the end of The Second World War , the individual has through technology, become almost blessed with God like power. From this small office, I can speak with,communicate,and when required, drive or fly to all corners of the World. The advance of this individual liberation has come at a high price to Western society.
The assault on family values, extends to the communities we are part of. The divorce rate in the U.K. is at an all time high and increasing.The heart of our towns and cities have been decimated by out of Town shopping Hypermarkets which conspire to sell processed foods that proliferate obesity, alcoholism and self indulgence to excess, all in the name of competition and lower prices. Neighbours,no longer trust neighbours and hardly speak.
Our prisons are full to overflowing. Children faced with broken homes, leave childhood at an early age, to face the reality of role models in conflict. Old people are scared to walk out after dark.The assault on civil liberties, progresses almost without challenge , to retard the gains made through generations of suffrage and sacrifice.
All this is accompanied by loss of faith and confusion to what the productive meaning of what life is all about. Clearly,man is not yet ready to attain the status of a God. Within our society of plenty, resides the beggars of misfortune who traverse the bumpy downward steps to despair.The thirst for education as a way to reach the stars is a commodity shared across our planet.Those who can reach high enough are those who fair the best.The rest are trapped within the social prison of despair.
The measure of any society, is not how many live in large houses and sustain surplus bank accounts and drive the fastest and most expensive cars . The measure of a successful society, is how much does it honour simple values such as Love and Compassion and the willingness to care and share. Sadly, somewhere in our recent past, the path of progress was diverted along a wayward route which is conflicting with the ideals and challenges of Jesus Christ and the message of hope for the deliverance of mankind from evil. I firmly believe that the message of Christmas stands transparently accountable amongst this sea of despair.The birth of Jesus Christ is acknowledged in the Holy Koran.Though there are differences in its account. Mary gave birth under a date tree, alone and not in a stable next to the Inn. Even today, a women giving birth without a father receives mixed signals of some derision amongst all societies. One can only imagine the resentment and scorn Mary would have encountered from her own community.The Holy Bible acknowledges that the first miracle Jesus performed was at the age of 32 when he turned water into wine.The Holy Koran proclaims that the baby Jesus spoke fluently and that this was indeed , the first miracle.Whatever the conviction or belief, the fact of the birth of Jesus remains in both religious teachings.
In 2003, i was confronted with my own mortality and death, at the hands of incredible illness. A very personal and in many ways, a very deeply spiritual experience which to this day, remains in the domain of very few people.
The event was recorded on tape, by the hospital chaplain and other religious personnel who administered
the last rites to me 3 times.
I recall, being approached by a doctor in a side ward of the hospital,who was complaining that I was taking up the oxygen off the ward by resisting his need to administer drugs to put me to sleep. I begged for more time to write my last will and testament, which I was recording on the back of a brown paper envelope. I still have that paper, to which the last passage requested a donation of 10 bottles of oxygen to the hospital. I slipped into a coma for 2 weeks and awoke in a small room unable to speak , restricted by the tubes in my throat and in my nose. I was surrounded by machines and monitors which controlled my breathing and all my bodily functions.The bleeping of the heart monitor was accompanied by the exhaling ventilator which was breathing for me. I was 13 stones, two weeks earlier. It is recorded that i now weighed less than 4 stones and was totally paralysed. The concerned looks on the faces of family and doctors and nurses told me that i was hanging between life and death by a very small thread. However, within myself i was not alarmed or afraid, in fact i was heavily sedated on morphine and felt quite comfortable.There was no fat or muscle on my naked body . All i could see was bones and ribs protruding through skin that was empty and laying lifeless. My ankles were swollen to the size of an elephant. The next couple of days were constantly interrupted at all times of day and night , by strangers who would struggle to find a vein to place more lines into all parts of my body. At the end of the second day , there was much commotion as doctors rushed around my bed. I later found out that my kidneys had failed. The first dialysis machine failed to work. This was replaced by a second which also failed. The third one finally started and was left at my bedside.
I could see my blood flowing through the tubes. Eventually they fitted a collar around my throat which when closed, allowed the hole in my throat to close to produce speech from my mouth. The first attempt to wean me off the ventilator failed as i began to gasp for air and float in and out of consciousness. The tube was rushed back into the hole in my throat and into my lungs. I begged to see my doctor "Charlie" to thank him and his staff for there efforts to keep me alive. But i remained steadfast in wanting to know the truth." What are my chances" i quietly enquired. He shook his head and said, "if we cant get you off the ventilator,pretty bleak im afraid"..."Thankyou for telling me the truth",
I whispered. I asked him for one favour,...could i have a segment of orange to suck ? He said the juice could enter my lungs and kill me. I said that is my risk..I want to take it. They placed the segment in my mouth and i sucked away merrily, then they removed the spent piece from my mouth and gave a sigh of relief as i remained out of danger. The feeding tube is the worst experience imaginable. The taste of liquid food entering the stomach is the most fowl tasting substance. I constantly vomited the bitter,burnt taste, which caused concern that i would choke from the restrictions from the tubes in my throat. At 4 am that morning i had a whispered argument with an Australian nurse who was someone who i had come to admire for her professionalism. I demanded she removed the feeding tube from my throat. After much debate, that i was signalling that i wanted to give up. She recanted and removed the tube. At 6 am a young doctor from Taiwan spoke honestly to me. He said that without the tube i would die fairly quickly. I asked with the tube, what are my chances..honestly. He said 2 out of 20. I remained without the tube. Sometime that morning i fell asleep and awoke with the tube reinstated. They resisted my complaints and ignored me for the rest of the day.
Throughout that day and into the night, i became aware of a presence behind me. I became calm and at ease.The feeling was spiritual, almost protective. I fell into a deep sleep. Through a dream i entered a place that was calm and quiet. There were trees and flowers that i had never seen before. There were white doves and water flowing into a brook. Standing next to me was a tall slim gentleman about 7 feet tall dressed in long flowing robes which were green. He spoke to me as though he knew me. The feeling was safe as if i was with my father. I can not remember all that was said, except the wish that he wanted me to return to Banjul, to pray in the Mosque and deliver a message to the Imam. I said i would gladly acknowledge his wish and carry his message.
When i awoke, the doctors removed the breathing tube from my throat. To everyone's astonishment, i began to breath. Though my progress was slow, i began to gain strength. Eventually, I left intensive care and was placed in a recovery ward. On the first day, the Kidney specialist rushed to my bedside to inform me that my kidneys had failed again and that they were going to rush me to a hospital in Manchester. He also told me it was probable that i would die. I recall i was reading a newspaper, and remained calm and aloof from his message of impending doom.
I said to him," Dr.Gibson...if my kidneys had failed i am certain i would be the first to know. See i am well and remain focused". Two hours later he returned to tell me that it appears that my kidneys have started working again. He shook his head and could not explain what had happened. We remain close friends to this day.
The first attempt to reach Banjul 4 months later failed as my kidneys were not making blood , requiring blood transfusions. A normal haemoglobin level is around 13. Mine fell to 5.7 indicating that my body contained less than 4 pints of blood. This was January 2004. By June 2004, against medical advice I was able to travel to Banjul.
The main concern was that my lungs could not sustain the altitude of air travel. However, i remained convinced that the message i had contracted to deliver overrides any such concerns. I had by then managed to leave my wheelchair to take about 10 to 20 steps unaided. Before leaving, the hospital chaplain had become aware of my dream and asked if i would be prepared to record the experience on tape. Which i gladly obliged. My struggle and remarkable recovery had been observed by those close by in hospital.
On April 10th 2000 amidst the carnage of the student riot. I became trapped in the compound of my friends and befriended a quiet gentleman known to me as Abou, who worked for Banjul City Council as a driver. I pleaded with him to remain in the safety of the compound and not to drive his vehicle which was clearly labelled as belonging to the council. He remained adamant that it was his responsibility to return the vehicle at any cost. Even though the students were clearly attacking any such symbol of authority. In my subsequent visists to Banjul, we became close friends and remain so to this day. I was inspired by his bravery and his lack of fear. On my return to Banjul in June 2004, he greeted me and came to my room in the hotel and sat quietly. I said," Abou, i have come on a mission and require your advice. I said i need to meet the Imam at the Mosque in Banjul." He said," i am here, what do you require" I laughed and said ," no i want to meet the Imam" to which he repeated " I am the Imam what do you require". I was dumbfounded.
Once i recovered from this shock, i asked if i could have permission to pray in the Mosque.Which he granted.
He also showed me how to pre-wash and speak the words to Allah. I then sat down with Abou and the elders on the floor of the Mosque to deliver the message. At first they challenged me as to its meaning. I said i do not know what it means only that i was to deliver the message. I have my own views as to what it means but it would be wrong to give them. I believe the message is for your ears and for your purpose. I should have no further part in its translation.
On returning to the U.K. and within 3 hours of entering my home, i became very sick and was rushed to hospital.
The strain had brought on Pancreatitus, which left me diabetic. Had the attack happened in Banjul, i would surely have died. It took 3 days of unconsciousness and incredible pain to recover. Two weeks later i was again rushed to hospital with recurring symptoms and incredible pain. Remarkably, my dependence on insulin has reduced from 140 units a day, to less that 15.
I have returned to Banjul 3 more times, to sponsor sport and other good causes and travelled to Nigeria to meet my wife who remains my inspiration to the cause of Africa. Today i remain committed to the cause represented by those who wish to unite Africa regardless of faith creed or religion. To reach this point has been a spiritual journey against all the reason and conduct that i have previously known. It could be argued with reason and rationality, that the experience of a dying man who's survival can not be explained and who was also under the influence of powerful medication, could easily have suffered an hallucination.The presence of Abou , may also be mere profound co-incidence.
The other factors of my subsequent survival against all known medical opinion and all the candles that have lit my way to Africa, leads me to the conclusion that we do not die. We merely suffer the experience of death. Whatever the journey of the body after death. The spirit lives to remain accountable for our actions in life. The private message that i carried can be confirmed by those who remain with its knowledge and blessing. I believe it is essential that i myself, do not to reveal its contents as i was only the messenger . If it contains the truth, God will give a meaning and a future for its deliverence.
Thankyou for allowing me to share this deeply personal and spiritual experience with you.
May we take this opportunity to wish everyone a Peaceful and a Prosperous New Year.
With special greetings to Baba Sey and Muhammed Jammeh ,
From Michael and H.R.H. Princess Monique United Kingdom.