“You know, I want to tell you a little secret,” he said, pacing back and forth.

People around me leaned in, waiting for it.

“There are endless opportunities for soul growth. Did you know that? And you’re just not there yet, sir.”

No one said anything. They were too busy taking notes. The man sat down, somewhat shamed.

“First, you have to find God.”

He nodded like he had just told us something important.

“Did you know that?” he asked.

The crowd murmured yes.

“Then you have to know your real self.”

He nodded along, like it had taken him forty years to figure that out. He pointed at the slide, which was up on the screen. He flashed to the next, which was a stepladder to heaven; each step had a word listed next to it, a new level to achieve on our path to soul growth so our spirits could be set free, with suggestions like “show compassion,” “love others,” “continue to grow mentally,” and “learn to know your real self.” We were all trying to get to the celestial plane together, but it would be hard work.

“Do you know what it feels like to die and come back?”

He waved his arm toward the crowd and asked if anyone else had had a near-death experience—or an NDE, as he liked to call it. Some people raised their hands.

“And yet you’re here. With me, and us, knowing you’ve seen something remarkable, and still searching for answers.”

“What’s your name?” he asked a man in a striped polo and cargo shorts.

“Duane.”

“Duane, you saw the white light, didn’t you?”

“Yes, sir.”

“But that’s been documented, hasn’t it?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m looking for the evidence. I’m looking for the new thing. What else did you see, Duane?”

“I saw people I loved waiting for me.”

“They were beckoning you in, weren’t they, Duane?”

“Yes.”

“They were trying to tell you it was safe to come with them, that the water was just fine—weren’t they?”

The crowd, riveted, murmured with soft laughter.

“I think so.”

“So why didn’t you go? Why didn’t you go yet, Duane?”

“I was scared.”

Guy touched his chin gently and wandered into an aisle, getting close to us.

“Of course you were. Who here wants to die?”

He waited for hands to raise, but they didn’t.

“I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to be afraid. It wasn’t your time, Duane. But now that you know that everyone you love is over there, it doesn’t seem so bad, does it?”

“No, I guess not.”

“See? That’s what we’re here for. Evidence and science.”

People clapped and nodded. That was what we were here for.

“You know what they say about Steve Jobs on his deathbed,” he said. “When he was dying, he said, ‘Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.’”