Finding the two store owners, he stood in front of them, politely awaiting the conversation's end. To his frustration, they continued talking as though he were not there. Their rudeness angered him and he whirled on his heals to search for fish to replace the two he was returning.

Phil rounded an aisle, allowing a customer to inconsiderately push past heading toward the front counter upon which he had placed the heavy container. As he grousingly muttered under his breath, another customer rushed right at him. Jumping aside, he fell against an open shelving display.

To his surprise, Phil felt no pain and looking down, he saw the upper half of his body as well as the lower part of his right thigh, knee and half of his calf were sticking through the pegboard. Looking to his left, he saw, with a start, most of his left arm projecting from the same shelf.

Making a deliberate effort, he jerked himself upright. He pulled the errant body parts to the same side of the partition then looked incredulously at the offending display. To his amazement, there appeared to be no damage to the shelving or the pegboard partition. It was as if he had not crashed into it at all.

While staring at the shelving, another customer rushed toward him, running full force into him. Phil was too astounded to have time to brace himself for the impact and expected to be knocked down, but to his considerable astonishment, the customer ran through him without slowing.

The impossibility was overwhelming! What was happening here, He wondered? Such things were impossible! First he falls through a display shelf, then a man ran through him as though he had no substance.

His stupefaction continued until he looked directly into the face of his long dead father, Ross. "Dad, is that you?"

"Who does it look like? Of course it's me."

"But Dad - - - you died."

"Of course."

"But if you are dead, how can I see you standing here, in front of me?"

"That's not too hard to explain. I'm not the only one dead."

"Of course not," Phil stammered in exasperation. "People die all the time. That doesn't explain how I can see you. What's happening to me?"

Ross, sympathetic concern on his face, said, "Son, apparently you are not aware of your situation. Come over here, I want to show you something."

Phil's consternation continued as he followed his father around the aisle to see a crowd in front of the counter. Several customers were bending over a man, flat on his back, on the floor. Ellen was furiously applying CPR upon the man.

"Who is that, Dad?"

"Look closer, Son.

Attempting to push through the crowd, he found that he easily slipped to the inner circle and was standing over his wife, who was breathing into the collapsed man's mouth. As she pulled away to continue pushing on his chest, Phil's mouth fell open.

"Dad! How can this be? This guy looks like me."

"Take it easy, son. That man was you. You passed from mortality to immortality."

"You mean that I'm dead!"

"Your body is dead. Your spirit lives."

"What happened?"

"You had a heart attack. Didn't you notice the symptoms?"

"I had chest pain and there seemed to be a pressure on my chest, but I have that frequently. Why should it be any different this time?"

"Your time is up, that's all. It's time to go now. Say goodby to Ellen, then we must go."

Phil leaned over his now still wife, who had ceased CPR and was crying.

He placed his hands around her face and slowly kissed her. Whispering into her ear, he said, "I am okay honey. Don't worry for me. Everything will be all right."

Ellen seemed to hear him, or at least sense his presence, for she slowly stood up and said, "Everything is okay. He is okay."

By this time a group of Emergency Medical Technicians arrived to place a stethoscope first to the body's chest, then over his carotid arteries. The EMT with the stethoscope solemnly looked up and shook his head negatively.

Ellen spoke up, "He's dead, but he is okay."

"Yes, ma'am. He is gone. Are you related to him?"

"Yes. He is - was my husband." The tears were reestablishing dominance.

"If you can, ma'am, we need to ask some questions."

At this, Phil felt a tap on his shoulder. His father was speaking to him, "Come on, son. We must go now."

Suddenly remembering his father's earlier lifestyle, a crushing fear paralyzed him. "Da-. Daa-. D-D-Dad. Where are we going?"

"Why we are going home. You earned your reward."

"But Dad - - - which way is home? Up or down?"

Ross stood looking at his son with the well remembered whimsical smile. "Why would you ask that? Don't you feel confident you are saved?"

"I feel that I am saved, but -?"

"But what, son? - Oh, - I see. You thought that I went into the lake of fire, didn't you?"

"I remember your life style while I was growing up. You had a blistering temper, you cheated on Mom, you frequently broke the law and you were the meanest drunk I have ever known. I assumed that life style would lead to condemnation."

"It does. Tell me, son. Have you always lived a perfect life?"

"Nooooo. No way. I am improving as I get older, but there are some things in my past - I daily thank GOD for his forgiveness."

"Do you feel that GOD could not forgive me?"

"I - No, of course not. He will forgive anyone who believes in Jesus and repents. But although you acknowledged the existence of a supreme power, I didn't think you believed in Jesus."

"I found the truth through television before I died. Actually, I found my Savior though a television ministry. I, too, thank GOD daily, but now, in person.

"If you are satisfied, son, we have to go. It is time.

Phil felt a soft warm glow on his face, accompanied by a bright light.

It felt like sunshine.

Confused, he could faintly hear the wrens singing from the other side of the closed windows.

To his astonishment, he was in his bed. Suspiciously expecting his hand to slide through, he clutched the pillow beneath his head. It bunched up in his hand. Slowly realization arrived. It had all been a dream. Taking a deep breath, he slowly exhaled. He was still here.