Free Just Like Heaven by Steven Slavick Page A

concept because I’m between two worlds?”
    “Yes.”
    “Before you mentioned spiritual advancement. What did you mean? If I’ve been to earth so many times compared to you, I must be more advanced than you? Am I right?”
    “In this instance? No.”
    Nina felt like her friend had slapped her face with a wet noodle. “So does that mean you’re somehow better than me? That your spirit is more pure?”
    “There’s that defensive aspect of your personality I’m so used to,” Mei Lee said, although she didn’t look dis pleased. “It just means that my spirit has advanced to a higher plane. There may be different levels o f spiritual advancement, but God loves each of us equally. That I’ve attained a higher level of spirituality just means that I’ve endured more …shall we say unfortunate circumstances in my four incarnations on e arth than you have.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Before you decided to visit e arth this last time aroun d, we discussed what your soul has encountered and experienced as well as what you hoped to lear n and how you wanted to grow. Then we created a chart for your life. Afterwards, you met with God and drew up a contract.”
    “With God? I’ve met God?”
    “ We all have. But you make it sound like you and God sat down on a park bench and ha d a conversation. Like, “ Hey, did you watch the Blackhawk s game last week?”
    Nina broke out laughing. She hadn’t expected a total shift in Mei Lee ’s tone, not to mention joking around in the middle of such an important conversation. “You know about sports teams?”
    “I don’t pay attention to them. But you do. And I pay attention to you. So I know that you go to at least one game each year. And that you have a crush on Patrick Kane. ”
    Nina’s mouth dropped open. She didn’t like the idea of an observer watching her at all times. “You’re worse than an eavesdropper. Do you watch me in the shower, too?”
    “See? You’re still in the physical world. We have no interest in physical affection – at least in terms of sexual relations. That’s a human activity, and in order for the continuation of your species, you must have a reason to continue procreating. So evolution gave you reason to find sex appealing. Besides, we have a more spiritual form of physical affection.”
    Nina felt somewhat disappointed that there wasn’t a form of sexual relationships on the Other Side, but Mei Lee ’s description made sense. And it made her curious to discover what she meant about this other form of affection. Then she recalled how her friend had mentioned that she had conferred with God before visiting e arth again. “So God and I don’t sit down over a couple glasses of wine and chat. That makes sense. He’s a busy guy.”
    “He always has time for each of us. He’s omnipresent, meaning he can be in anywhere at any time. But he is in each of us, and we all share a connection with him. But you can’ t grasp the underlying concept of talking with God because you’re half in this dimension and half on e arth .”
    “So I’m not dead?”
    “ I didn’t say that. Y ou r spirit is here with me. I only said that, if you were completely emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually here with me as well, you would know exactly how to communicate with God.”
    “What about prayers. He hears our prayers, doesn’t H e?”
    “That is exactly what I’m talking about. Although you can feel and understand a little about life on the Other Side, most of you is still tethered to your physical presence on e arth . But yes, God always hears your prayers.”
    “So you and I drew up my chart? What does that mean ?”
    “We looked at your spiritual advancement in context with what you needed to experience an d learn in order for your soul to grow. And we set up certain obstacles in your life on e arth in order to make that happen. That explains why you chose your parents.”
    “ But I’m a total disappointment in their eyes. They wish