Near Death, Deep Faith, New Life

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“Sometimes it takes an overwhelming breakdown to have an undeniable breakthrough.” – unknown

I think there are a few existential experiences that are so rare that we almost have an obligation to share them. Like if we’ve:

  • Held hands with an octopus
  • Skiied from the top of the world
  • Had a near-death experience and met Jesus

There are movies made about the first two (My Octopus Teacher (2020) and Everest North (not yet released) by Jimmy Chin). And for the third, I was exceptionally lucky to have recently had a conversation with Liza Anderson about her near-death experience on the Life of Try podcast.

Liza Anderson shares the extraordinary true story behind her book The Crossing: My Near Death Experience with Jesus. After a sudden medical emergency left her in an induced coma for weeks, she experienced what she describes as a choice between life and death—and an encounter with Jesus that transformed her understanding of suffering, healing, and purpose.

Liza tells us what happens when life strips everything away—your plans, your certainty, even your sense of who you are—and asks you to choose. We talk about near-death experiences, faith, trauma recovery, critical illness, prayer, and how to stay grounded when everything around you is swirling.

Takeaways:

  • You don’t have to control the outcome to choose the next step.
  • Some of life’s deepest lessons come through suffering, but they can reshape how we live every ordinary day.
  • Trying can mean returning to life one small moment at a time.
  • Being fully present matters more than predicting or controlling what comes next.
  • Sometimes courage looks less like certainty and more like choosing life again and again.
  • The adventure of life may be less about outcomes and more about how we show up to the moment we’re in.

Here are some other ways you can listen and watch Liza’s amazing journey:

Way Will Open: How To Trust Life's Timing – The Life of Try: Personal growth, one try at a time.

Feeling stuck or unsure how to move forward? In this reflective episode of The Life of Try, Wynne Leon explores the Quaker phrase “way will open” and the unexpected guidancehidden in closed doors, delays, and seasons of waiting. Through personal stories of illness, motherhood, life transitions, and lessons from Parker J. Palmer and Mark Nepo, Wynne shares how to trust the process, stop forcing theoutcome, and recognize the next honest step. Listen for an encouraging reminder that rest is not failure, progress does not always look like motion, and the path ahead may become clearer when we notice what has closed behind us.
  1. Way Will Open: How To Trust Life's Timing
  2. How to Stop Procrastinating and Start: The 10-Minute Rule for Taking Action
  3. The Art of Meaningful Conversations: Lessons from 200 podcast episodes
  4. The Power of Saying Yes
  5. Growth Takes Energy| How Rest Helps Habits Stick

Links for this episode:

Near Death, Deep Faith, New Life | Liza Anderson’s Extraordinary Story transcript

The Crossing: My Near Death Experience with Jesus by Liza Anderson on Amazon

Other Episodes you Might Enjoy:

⁠ Letting Go Of Outcomes: The Mindset That Keeps You Moving⁠

4⁠8: How to Get Unstuck: Michael Yang on Saying Yes, Resilience and Coming Alive⁠

⁠How to Reclaim Fun in Adult Life | Mike Rucker, PhD, on Joy, Burnout and the Fun Habit⁠

(featured photo from Pexels)

28 thoughts on “Near Death, Deep Faith, New Life”

  3. Such a profound episode, Wynne. Thank you so much for sharing this. I have no words and too many words to describe my feelings right now. I’ll be processing this for a while! One thing I know for sure: Jesus is pure, unconditional love.

    Liked by 2 people

  4. Wow, I’m looking forward to listening!! Dr. Zeus experienced a similar “choice between life and death” while clinically “dead,” and I’m always so fascinated by these types of stories and how the experience changes people.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I agree, Erin – it is fascinating. Especially when you consider the ways that people describe these experiences and what they have in common! Thanks for tuning in!

      Liked by 1 person

  8. I cannot say much about religious visions, but perhaps the following Yiddish toast is appropriate: “L’Chaim!” Translation: “To life!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Wow what a harrowing experience of terrible medical care and trauma. So glad her husband was there to advocate for her during the long coma. And the point that we “have to choose” our life… It’s a really vital lesson for people to wake up and realize — we have choices. But we can’t always control outcomes… Great story.

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  12. A very important lesson, to live in the moment and allow life to unfold. This is something I learned years ago and is what I strive to do each day. Some days we can be more successful, while other days we need to remind ourselves to get back on track.

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  14. What a profound experience, Wynne, and shared with such compelling and gripping details. It is wild how inattentiveness to details in the health practitioners’ end could’ve resulted in something far worse and permanent!

    The rehab journey was also touching and I can see how the experiences with the roommate left an impression on Liza.

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  15. Wynne, I was on the edge of my seat taking in Liza’s medical crisis. I am not surprised the hospital has changed its policy about the barium. And YES! Family anf friends and the patient MUST advocate for themselves. It doesn’t matter how wonderful the hospital is. I fell through the cracks more than once. And the experience of being asked to go left or right gave me shivers. It’s breathtaking and quite inspirational. Thanks, Wynne,

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  18. Wonderful interview, Wynne! You do a fantastic job of asking empathetic questions and drawing out the responses. A remarkable story, and one of great hope. 💞

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