THE GHOSTS OF 9/11

I've been reading about the ghosts of 9/11 in Patricia Pearson's book Opening Heaven's Door. It seems that three 9/11 World Trade Center survivors feel they were guided to safety by presences they sensed.

One was led down the North Tower stairs after being 'prodded' through a wall of fire, while another - who had been trapped beneath concrete - received encouraging visits from someone she perceived to be a monk. The third was comforted as he lay under a pile of rubble.

I went on to read about Sir Ernest Shackleton, whose boat became mired in ice in 1916 and who subsequently - accompanied by two of his crew - made a desperate trek across a mountainous 25-mile stretch of Antarctica. As they trekked, all 3 men became conscious of a presence accompanying and guiding them.

They were in this way escorted safely to a whaling station. It is interesting that during the trek none of the men mentioned him, each believing that they were alone in sensing the extra companion. And when asked about it afterwards Sir Ernest said the experience had been too transcendent to be the subject of casual 'Ouija Board chatter'.

Apparently many explorers, mountaineers, divers and sailors have shared his sense of wonder through experiencing the Third Man in times of duress. Sometimes their companions have been visible, sometimes not. At times the presence has spoken aloud to them, but not always. They have invariably, though, been comforted or led to safety.

I wholly believe in the ghosts of 9/11 and the Third Man. Do you?