I went to Big Bend National Park with five of my friends in 1999. I am a native Texan, but I'd never gotten around to going to the Big Bend country, and was really excited about it. Two of our buddies couldn't get away at the same time as the rest of us, so we made arrangements to meet them at a specific campsite in the Park.
We started out at about 4:00 am and drove the entire day, arriving at the park close to sun down. Unfortunately there was an unexpected surprise waiting for us … the campsite we intended to stay at was full. Our cell phones didn't work that far out in the desert, and even though it was a long shot we decided to leave our two friends a note on the campsite bulletin board. We told them that we'd meet them there in the morning, and we hoped and prayed that they'd find the note, but they never did.
The four of us set out to find a primitive campsite, which was the only space that was still available in the park. It had been a long tiring day, and we didn't need the extra stress of finding the spot before sundown. We certainly didn't want to set up our tents in the dark, and it seemed like it took forever to find our camping area.
From the moment I stepped out of the truck to help set up our camp, I felt "charged." Although I was a little apprehensive about being out so far, and worried about finding our two friends in the morning, the beauty of the desert and our campsite still filled me with awe and wonder.
Even though it had been a very long day for everyone, we stayed up for quite awhile after getting the camp set up. We had a great supper, talked and laughed a whole bunch, and watched billions of brilliant stars fill the night sky before we retired to our tents for the night.
The desert tranquility was awesome! I expected to hear all kinds of critters disturbing our peace and quiet throughout the night, but I heard nothing, absolutely nothing. Perhaps the tranquility and solitude were responsible for what happened next.
I was lying on my back, and since it gets real cold at night, I had what felt like a ton of blankets on top of me. As I began to drift off to sleep I felt myself leaving my body, and I had a floating sensation as I went up and out the hole at the top of the tent. I remember looking down at our campsite, the tents, our vehicles, and the dim glow of a small fire we had built. I also remember turning around and looking at the silhouette of some cliffs that were behind our campsite, and willing myself to move toward them. Unfortunately, as I started to fly in that direction I woke up, and I was very disappointed that it had ended so quickly.
Unlike a dream, this experience was very crisp and clear, and it felt just like what I refer to as the real time zone. And also unlike a dream, I still clearly remember every detail. Even though it was a short experience, it left a powerful and lasting impression upon me. To my knowledge, I never had an Out of Body Experience before, and I wasn't practicing any type of regimen to stimulate that possibility.
The rest of that long weekend was full of synchronicities, which could get boring if I went into any great detail, but there's one worth mentioning. We got lost. Big Bend National Park is vast, and I do mean vast, and while trying to sort things out we found the two friends that we had left the note for. What do you suppose the odds are for that to happen!?
One of the mornings I woke up before everyone else and decided to go for a walk. But I didn't go very far from our campsite. I watched the sun creep over the cliffs and inch its way across the desert, lighting everything in its path. And I mean everything … the ground, the rocks, the sand, and the tiny yellow flowers that were everywhere. They appeared to sparkle and vibrate and as the sunlight lit them up. I was awed, and as I sat there on that desert hilltop I prayed to the Creator, giving thanks for all the beauty that was before me.
It was a long time before I told my friends about my OBE. It was very personal, and it was a turning point in my spiritual journey. Besides, it took a while for me to come up with the right words to describe the experiences and deep feelings I had during that entire weekend. But that was not to be my last OBE. I recently took a trip with a friend to Sedona, Arizona and had a very similar experience. Something new has opened for me. Whether it is from the Creator, our personal guide, or our own spirit within us, or all the above, I truly believe we are led to where we need to be in this life … as long as we are open to receiving the guidance. I am just glad I was open to the energy I received on that camping trip, and I have a fondness for the desert ever since.
Edited by
Rod C. Davis
