.
The Prayer Blanket
—as related to me by my friend Tim Cassar,
who recently survived a brain cancer operation
by Brian Yapko
The paramedics came. They took my friend
To where there was no earthly pain or fear.
Of course, he worried this might be the end—
But Tim could also sense the Lord was near!
He prayed the angels might come forth and guide
The surgeon’s hands, remove what was malign.
And though it’s true he very nearly died,
My friend was spared by God to share this Sign:
Acceptance was the answer. In God’s care
Tim realized all that he could do was pray.
And then he was transported through the air
His body still attached, though far away!
And with the help of cherubim he trod
Into a space which seemed much like a cave—
In fact, the very throne room of our God
Where all are watched from cradle to the grave.
Our Father seemed a gentle, weary man
Whose simple throne was neither tall nor grand—
Yet here He oversees Creation’s plan.
He spoke not to my friend but waved His hand
And gestured for the angels then to move
My friend upon a platform with a bed.
Upon it Tim was cushioned with God’s love
As whispered words of comfort filled his head.
God’s face displayed compassion and deep grief
As thoughts divine were to my friend revealed:
A Great Commission! Tim must share belief
In God and miracles. All will be healed,
All will be well—such thoughts Our Father shared.
He then revealed there will be tribulation.
Despite the pain, believers will be spared
To whom He’ll show His heart of consolation!
Laid gently on his back my friend next met
Our Savior, who from shadows had come forth
In simple garb with words none could forget
As He held up a cloth of untold worth—
It looked to be an old grandmother’s quilt—
But one in which the panels which were there
Were not made up of cloth but rather built
From loved one’s loving hands composed in prayer!
This is the very message that Christ sends:
We all have quilts made up of hope and love
Sewn from the prayers of family and friends
And offered to our Father up above.
The prayers are gathered up like Autumn leaves
And none—not even one—will be ignored,
For love proves faith for each soul who believes
And such pure love is honored by the Lord.
Christ laid this holy quilt upon my friend:
“Your prayer blanket, my beloved son.”
It wasn’t warm, but heavy with a blend
Of Godliness and earthly prayer spun.
It was not warm but very reassuring
Like quilts that one remembers as a child.
It made Tim feel a love that is enduring
Preparing him for words hopeful and mild.
Christ said to him “You’re going to be okay,”
And touched this holy blanket with His hand.
And sooner than the night turns into day
Tim felt a peace he scarce could understand.
His heart began to beat, lungs filled with air
He felt a rush and then came back to life.
His eyes were opened and he saw her there
An angel in the flesh—his loving wife.
He’d made it through this fearsome operation
But felt unworthy of these gifts: Rebirth,
To see God’s face, to feel His consolation
And then come home to loved ones back on Earth!
Tim’s mission now: to share his faith, to kneel
Before the Lord and shout to all who’ll hear:
“Believe me when I tell you Heaven’s real
And that Our Blessed Lord is always near!”
.
.
Brian Yapko is a retired lawyer whose poetry has appeared in over fifty journals. He is the winner of the 2023 SCP International Poetry Competition. Brian is also the author of several short stories, the science fiction novel El Nuevo Mundo and the gothic archaeological novel Bleeding Stone. He lives in Wimauma, Florida.
Brian, what a great poem and testimony. I had my own near-death experience, but did not make it to the throne room. I had a heart attack a long time ago. I remember a kindly shadow figure with me under a black arch, and we were approaching a bright yellow light. The shadow figure asked me if I was ready to go with him. I answered, “I am not through with life. I have more to do.” The shadow figure then departed I turned back, and then I woke up. How brilliantly you told his story!
Tim’s testimony is indeed a divine blessing. Thank you Brian for dedicating the time and love to listen to and be with Tim. You are phenomenally talented.
You are an amazingly talented man and a fantastic friend. ✝️❤️ Love Robin
A beautiful poem, Brian, and though your friend’s experience was frightening it was a true blessing, two blessings because your poem is a wonderful witness. I will send it to a friend who has opted out of treatment and is patiently awaiting his parting from this world. Perhaps your poem will help to send him in the right direction.
Brian, how blessed Tim is to have you as a true friend and exceptional poetic interpreter of his experience.
An extremely moving piece, Brian, and lovingly penning it for a very close friend who’d gone through what Tim did is a wonderful, heart lifting gesture. And Evan’s image is superb – an all around perfect Sunday offering. Thank you –
A powerful account of a man’s near-death experience. Since this is a true narrative that was presented to Brian, the facts must govern the language, not vice-versa. The poet’s use of meter and rhyme is his sole creative choice, since the details of the actual event are inviolable. And this is truly worthy of comment — Tim has experienced a “Prayer Blanket,” which functioned in his near-death experience just as a symbol or objective correlative does in fictive poetry. But here that fictive thing is NOT fictive but real. It was a part of Tim’s actual experience.
This identity of fictive-and-real makes my skin tingle, because it says that what poets labor at here in the world of time to create is transcendently paralleled in the afterlife. The poem is profoundly incarnational, but in a reverse-vision way: what we poets create here on earth is patterned in supernatural reality.
I don’t know if that makes much sense, but it seems to me that the poem is both frightening and consoling at the same time.
Congratulations Brian on putting Tim’s vision to paper. I think translating a Spiritual experience into poetry is very difficult to pull off, but you did it with aplomb.
I love the skill and attention to detail which you put into this poetic re-telling of your friend’s amazing experience. This is a wonderful poem and a great way to amplify his great Commission and help your friend reach out even further than he otherwise could.
This story reminds me of some things which John Wesley wrote:
“God’s command to “pray without ceasing” is founded on the necessity we have of His grace to preserve the life of God in the soul, which can no more subsist one moment without it, than the body can without air.”
and “In souls filled with love, the desire to please God is continual prayer.”
Great work Brian!
Extraordinary and then some, Brian. The first stanza shows that Tim has conveyed not only his experience as something to report, but as message and sign to you, reporter as believer. Your introduction, that is, shows him as fulfilling the commission he received. Much of the message is simply what Christians today are likely to think about God and salvation with no prompting from beyond. There are a few touches that raise questions, such as the grief shown in God’s face and His heart of consolation. But with Christ appearing just as the heart is spoken of, it goes without saying (by Tim or you) that when we think of God incarnate with face and heart, we think of Christ in his divine humanity. And the “very message that Christ sends” is the unique portion of Tim’s story, namely, the prayer blanket described and interpreted to him by his Savior, not to mention the feelings it gives Tim.
The timing of this poem is providential for me and my best friend. Tomorrow she will begin 20 intense days of what may be a miraculous new treatment at City of Hope cancer hospital. She’s had a near-death experience of sorts, having been nearly killed elsewhere by months of chemotherapy. I am to accompany her through the days ahead (except while doctors are present) with the blankets and pillows of prayer, meditation, nutrition, and diversion. Your poem will be among them. Glad to have it!
These NDE are very compelling; and I had one myself when I nearly died of cancer 14 years ago. Indeed, my epic, HellWard, begins in the ward where it happened. No earthly experience is comparable to it, and – if truth be told – one doesn’t want to come back. But the good news is: if one is sent back, you can be sure – doubly sure – there is a deep purpose in it. Thanks for sharing Brian – in the world of materialism in which we now live, there is no topic more important than this.
Commenters, thank you so much not only for your generous words but for some of the deeply personal thoughts and experiences you have shared. Roy and James, thank you in particular for sharing your own near death experiences. Tim and his wife Robin have been extremely moved by the fact that so many have been touched by what Tim experienced. Normally, it would be my honor and pleasure to respond to each of your moving comments individually. However, since this poem is entirely based on an event which was so personal and profound for Tim, I think it best if I step aside and try to not make this poem about me more than is absolutely necessary. All I did was translate what Tim witnessed first-hand into a poetic form which he approved and hoped might be shared. My initial thought was to have this poem published anonymously but I was persuaded by Evan and others that this would not have been to the benefit of the poem or to Tim. So let me at least give credit is due and thank Tim from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to participate in an amazing experience – one which has moved me to my very soul.
Brian, what a heart-touchingly beautiful poem that brings with it hope and a peace in knowing we are not alone during such harrowing times. Thank you to Tim and to you for reaching out and sharing this glorious message with us. Brian, I know this must have been tough to get just right… the poem shines with your talent and your care. I wish Tim well on his journey.