Tag: peace at the edge of uncertainty

“Peace” featured in Reviewers Bookshelf at Midwest Book Review

The October, 2011 edition of Reviewer’s Bookshelf at the Midwest Book Review featured the following review of “Peace at the Edge of Uncertainty”

Many thanks to Nicole and Midwest Book Review!

Death is the final frontier. It is the destination of every person to walk the face of the Earth. It is unavoidable, inescapable, unknowable – yet it holds such a mysterious fascination. Any book examining death from a personal perspective immediately becomes universal in scope. We all seek to find out what lies beyond. We yearn for answers, yet fear what is impossible to discern. In Peace at the Edge of Uncertainty, Neil Hanson recounts the spiritually charged moment of experiencing firsthand his father’s passing. In that hospital room, he witnessed the veil, separating life and death, briefly lift in his presence. It was a profound encounter that continues to shape his outlook on life.

Hanson wrote the book 15 years after his father’s death. It is composed in letter format as he attempts to correspond with his father on a spiritual plane. He hopes that by expressing his thoughts and emotions on paper the message will reverberate to where his father’s soul now resides. Hanson stresses two points. First, he says he’s sorry for any stress his youthful misbehavior may have caused and that he forgives his father for not always being there for him when he was growing up. Second, he tells his father that he loves him. Contrition, forgiveness and love are what Hanson yearns to tell his father from the very depths of his heart.

The emphasis behind this communication is that Hanson’s father was brought to the hospital in a coma from which he never recovered. The unexpected nature of the situation left no room for closure. Hanson was never able to talk with his dad again. While his body was still physically present for the remaining time they had together, his mind was not. This absence of words prompted Hanson to write this book. He longed to be able to communicate with his father one last time.

While Christian in nature, the book is pluralistic in tone. Hanson does not endorse any particular faith and in fact finds that many organized religions hinder people from connecting with the divine. He feels people are desperately searching for ways to experience God in their lives, and that they are not provided with the proper spiritual instruction on how to achieve this desire.

His own divine awakening began as a teenager at a high school wrestling tournament. When he was thrown to the ground during a match, he felt his soul leave his body. The atmosphere around him became suffused with light and harmony. Everything was silent, but for what seemed like a chorus of angels filling his ears. He felt a sense of peace he never knew existed. He had entered a state of utter bliss. It was magical, mystical. Until he floated up to the ceiling and noticed the dust on a light fixture, his soul with a pop immediately reunited with his body on the mat. Being able to notice something ordinary like dust, Hanson took to mean that he was still tethered to the ties of this world.

It wasn’t until his father drew his last breath that this doorway opened to him again. Albeit, this time he was only allowed to peek through the keyhole and not walk through the door. The same immense feelings engulfed him as his father’s soul became separated from his body. While ultimately feeling sad for their impending separation, Hanson also experienced an overwhelming sense of joy as he felt a divine presence enter the room. With his heart rapidly beating and tears streaming down his face, he was granted the privilege of witnessing his father cross the dividing line between life and death.

In a beautiful passage, Hanson recounts the joy of impending fathers in the hospital’s maternity ward at the arrival of their newborn babies. What happiness to be there for your child on such a momentous occasion. As his father’s soul slips away he realizes the circular nature of the journey. As the son is now there for the father as he returns to the place from which he was born.

Overall, Hanson beautifully relates the privilege of being able to witness the last breath of a loved one.

Midwest Book Review give Peace at the Edge of Uncertainty 5 Stars

Midwest Book Review Peace at the Edge of Uncertainty a 5-Star review in July.

Here’s the link, under the  Religion/Spirituality Shelf.

Here’s what they had to say:

“No one knows everything, and coming to terms with such a frightening aspect is key to finding peace. “Peace at the Edge of Uncertainty” is an inspirational spirituality book from Neil Hanson, states that not only is uncertainty not worth fearing, but it should be embraced. His wisdom speaks with some ideas that at first sight, aren’t clear, but he does well in clarifying and providing sound advice. “Peace at the Edge of Uncertainty” states that certainty is a myth, and makes for a thoughtful and uplifting read.”

New Review by Janette Fuller

New Review by Janette Fuller

Janette Fuller published a new 5-star review of Peace at the Edge of Uncertainty last week – check out her comments here. I really appreciate Jannette’s comments! A reviewer named Red Haircrow reviewed the book last week as well, and gave the book only 3 or 4 stars (depending on which review site.) He doesn’t like spiritual books, and readily admits he was probably not the right reviewer for this book. I greatly appreciate that he took the time and energy to review the book even though it’s not a genre he normally reviews.

This points out to me again, (and Janette Fuller mentions this too in her 5-star review), that this is a book that some people will love and some people won’t. I suppose that’s the case with any book, but in this case, the subject matter is quite intertwined with our spiritual outlook. There are lots of folks in the world who want nothing to do with discussions of a spiritual nature, and often become angry and offended when any sort of spiritual discussion emerges. I think those folks aren’t going to like the book.

This is unfortunate, as when I wrote the book, it was my hope to reach out to some of these folks. I wanted to let these folks know that asking questions and wondering wasn’t the same as adopting and accepting dogma and doctrine. There’s lots of mystery in the world, and finding peace with the uncertainty surrounding that mystery is a good thing.

So, thanks Janette for the excellent review, and thanks Red Haircrow for taking the time and energy to review a book that clearly falls outside the realm of the sort of book you enjoy and want to review!