By Karen Corpora, Special Contributor
Michael R. Albert, 83, retells a dream he had when he was 12 years old in a children’s book he has authored entitled “Mekhail’s Dream.”
The dream is about the creation of souls, God’s instructions to the soul before being born and his sadness for the children who will not returning to him after life here on Earth.
Two years ago, Albert, a member of Our Lady of Mercy Parish, South Bound Brook, suffered a heart attack and was resuscitated from the brink of death. It was then that he felt God was giving him another chance to share his dream.
“What inspired me to write “Mekhail’s Dream” was my deep appreciation for life and that we all have a purpose to fulfill,” said Albert about his first attempt at story book writing. “We are all unique and precious. One life destroyed cannot be replaced by another. I believe our purpose is to live a good life, loving and caring for one another so that one day we will return back to God.”
Through the years, Albert has always remembered his dream, but struggled to recall what it was that God told him to do while he was here on earth. Life has been full of love for him and his wife, Madelyn, who have been married for 59 years. Together, they raised three sons and are now enjoying their four grandchildren.
Albert is a veteran of the United States Air Force and a retired financial examiner. He was active in parish ministries, including teaching religious education and helping with the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.
“Mekhail’s Dream” is seen through the eyes of an inquisitive 12-year-old boy who is trying to deal with the death of his two sisters and his brother. He tried to imagine what death was like and, because of his questioning, gained some insight one night while he was dreaming. His dream takes him to the place where the creator is giving instructions and a final blessing to the souls preparing to come to earth.
After having his dream, Albert spent many years searching for the instructions he remembers being given. He wrote down the dream so he could keep the facts straight. When he was in his thirties, he remembers reading 1 John 4: 7: “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.” This is what he remembers being told in his dream. By loving and caring for one another, we will desire to one day return to the God.
“I have always been pro-life,” Albert said. “I pray that we change laws now to protect life. We must also help to change the hearts of future generations so life will always be protected. This is what I wanted to share in my book.”
His concern for the sanctity of all life also inspired him to participate in the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C.
“Mekhail’s Dream” was published by Archway Publishing in June and is available through EBooks, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
This article first appeared in The Catholic Spirit, Diocese of Metuchen, and is published here with permission. Corpora is a freelance correspondent with The Catholic Spirit.