Dreams

Although I have never had a Near Death Experience as discussed in the book, I have had out of world experiences. I described such an event in the book when I received a dream foretelling me of a breakdown I was to experience just a few days later. It wasn’t until I experienced the event, did I make the connection to the dream.

Was the dream a prophecy? If so, what good was it? I could never connect the dots ahead of time. There have been other dreams which predicted an unlikely future that materialized, but they are rare. I can only count three of them during my life time; but again these dreams were of no use as I could never see the relationship until the event occurred.

In the Bible, God uses dreams, more than any other form of communication to reach us. From Genesis and throughout the New Testament, God spoke through dreams from Joseph in the Old Testament to Joseph in the New Testament. Joseph, husband had four (4) different dreams to warn and direct him to action in order to keep the infant Jesus safe.

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Whispers

God rarely speaks to anyone as God spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to a friend. Other than Moses, Job and a few others, God does not speak to us as he did Moses. In I King Chapter 19 God speaks to Elijah in whispers as explained below.

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

God is telling Elijah and us, that He doesn’t’ communicate loudly through earthquakes, great winds, and fires. God tells Elijah and us to pay attention to him as he speaks in whispers. Jesus says something similar in John Chapter 3:8 as follows:

"'The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.'"

I’m Listening

I sometimes hear God’s whispers, but I never know when, where they come from or in what form they will take. But, I do know when I hear them, I know they are guiding me to move forward and for the good.

Thoughts

For me, whispers are like telepathy and come in the form of a thought. It is such a message that compelled me to write the book. Months ago the thought of writing my book came to me. Unlike most thought that come and go, this one was persistent, annoying and like an unwelcomed guest, it just didn’t know when to leave.

To quiet these thoughts, I began to write the book. When I began, I was not sure if I was writing it for me, my family, or others. I started with an outline that I never followed, not even close. It was a cathartic experience to be sure, but it was much more than that.

Once I started writing, I couldn’t stop and was obsessed with completing it. Even when I found myself in the hospital for a few days, I continued to write on my cellphone through a convenient app. At home, I wrote through many nights, which seemed to pass so quickly as a blink of the eye.

Music Speaks

One night, around 3AM, while writing the book, I sensed I was not alone. The room seemed occupied as if Michael was near me. At that time, I was playing music on my cellphone and set it earlier to play random songs, but I soon realized, they weren’t random at all.

All at once, my phone began to play some of Michael’s favorite songs; many of which we use to sing together when driving. The series of song’s began with Michael’s favorite Cat Stevens’ song “Moon shadow,” and every song that followed were some of our favorites. It was as if he compiled a playlist of songs just for me that night. Towards the end of this experience, a song describing a relationship between a father and a son played. The remainder of that night, we were writing this book—his book together.

I felt so blessed to sense and hear from Michael that night and will never forget it. That experienced encouraged me. It confirmed to me that Michael was encouraging me to finish the book; one intended to help his family, friends and any others who may benefit from it.

So many other hints of his wellbeing occurred while writing the book, which comforted me a lot and I am not alone. Some of Michael’s friends also experienced events speaking of Michael’s presence. I listed a few of our experiences below. Like a judicial court seeking the truth, I offer Exhibits A through D below for your consideration.

Exhibit A

Login Page on My PC

A month before completing the book, I was going through pictures of Michael on my laptop to be used in this book.

The following morning, I open up my computer and this picture popped up on the “sign your password” or “login” page.

I know I was looking at many pictures to select the best ones for the book but how this picture ended up on my “log-in” screen, I can’t explain.

I am not referring to the “wallpaper background” on the computer screen that pops up after one enters his/her password on the log-in screen That, I know how to do. I am speaking of the “login in page” or what Windows 10 describes it as the “User account’s Picture.” After researching how to change this login screen, I discovered it takes the following steps.

1. Head for the Startup menu

2. Click your picture in the screen's top-right corner

3. When the menu drops down,

4. Choose Change Account Settings.

5. Windows presents the screen shown here. Windows lets each user choose an account picture.

So, you must know how surprised I was the following morning to see this image on my PC. I’m not speaking of any picture. I’m talking about a large face image and one staring right at me and with a smile when he was young and full of life.

Most of the pictures I have of Michael, he is accompanied with others or he is performing an act such as playing sports, strumming a guitar, etc. So, seeing such a big solo image of him on my PC made the experience even more exciting for me.

If I did go through the steps to put his large face looking at me, then I must have done it in my sleep.

Exhibit B

My Cell Phone Image

About the same time, another Solo picture of Michael popped up on my phone as if from nowhere…

Months ago I bought a new cell phone with a stylus. Not using a stylus for a long time, I finally got around to play with it. When I removed the stylus 3 icons came up on the phone screen as described below.

1. One has an image if tapped, it will take a screen shot

2. The second one, if tapped takes one to a writing tablet

3. The third one came in the form of a light bulb

When I tapped on the light bulb, it showed this picture of Michael. Again, not just another picture with other people or him doing anything. Both pictures above show him greeting anyone who looks at them. To me, this is a picture of Michael stretching his arms out shouting “Hey Dad, It’s Me and All Is Well”

Again, I have no idea how this happened. But it did happen and, once again, if I did it, I must have done it again in my sleep…

Exhibit C

Michael’s Roommate and Good friend’s “Coincidences”

I’m not the only one who has experienced unusual messages. Three years ago, Michael’s close friend Chris, and one-time roommate swears that on the day Michael died, he felt something disturbing. Somehow he felt something bad happened to someone and he looked and stared at a poster of himself and Michael when they played in a band.

During the same time, he saw a large and unusual bird just outside his window. Minutes later, he discovered Michael just died. I discovered that throughout history, unusual birds showing up unannounced is often interpreted as a sign that someone they know has just died.

Just a month ago, I called Chris to interview him for the book. When I called him, he was surprised to hear from me and said the following to me.

“Mr. Cannell—I was just starting at my phone directory and just stopped and looked at your name in my contact list for some time—just staring at it for no reason. Then, you called me.”

Exhibit D

Another One from His friend “Adriana” wrote to me on Sun, Aug 9th as follows in response to reading the book.

“Thank you so much! This is something that is really touching.

I just found a note from Mike, this was 3 years ago, coincidence? I don’t know but the note just came out in my Instagram after reading your email. I want to share with you.”

Coincidences

I can make a case that these examples are nothing but wishful thinking and coincidences. I understand that and maybe they are. But, how many coincidences must there be in order for them not to be coincidences?

To me, there are just too many “coincidences “to ignore.”