Discussion Questions

1. Waking Up in Heaven opens with a letter from Laura Schroff, author of An Invisible Thread. How does this letter help frame Crystal’s story? What do you think made Laura pay attention to Crystal’s message?
2. Revisit the moment when Crystal dies, beginning on page 3. What is your reaction to this scene? Are the details – the bright light, the warmth, the love – what would you expect? Why do you think Crystal chose to begin her story with her death, rather than with her troubled childhood?
3. Crystal describes the first person she met in heaven – herself: ‘Unlike on earth, where I was plagued by doubts and fears, in heaven there was nothing but absolute certainty about who I was … I was flooded with self-knowledge … revealing, for the first time ever, the real me.’ Why do you think God reveals ourselves to us when we get to heaven? Do you think everyone on earth is still waiting to meet himself or herself? What did Crystal learn about herself that surprised her? What do you imagine God might show you about yourself?
4. Crystal seems to have been followed by death for her entire life, beginning when her stepfather, Hank, ‘stood just inside [her] bedroom and aimed his gun at [her] bed.’ What are other moments in the story when Crystal comes face-to-face with death? What is the significance of so many close encounters?
5. ‘I was the common denominator. The problem had to lie with me’, says Crystal, in reference to the abuse she endured from three different people during her childhood. Do you think Crystal’s gut reaction to blame herself is typical? Describe a time in your life where a pattern of encounters has made you feel responsible, even though the situation may have been out of your control.
6. An important theme in Crystal’s story is forgiveness: forgiveness of herself, of her parents, of her abusers. Why is forgiveness so important to Crystal? Why was Crystal only able to find forgiveness in her heart after dying and meeting God?
7. How does suffering shape the person Crystal is today? In what ways has she suffered physically, mentally, economically, spiritually? Have you had similar struggles in your life? Do you believe, like Crystal, that ‘suffering can bring us even closer to Him’ and that ‘our very worst moments are precisely when God’s grace is most brightly revealed?’ Why or why not?
8. Discuss Virgil. What role does he play in ‘saving’ Crystal’s life? How would you characterize him? Do you see him as angel-like? Crystal says that Virgil brought stability to her life, but what else did he bring?
9. Crystal talks about her demonic events as tests from God to strengthen her faith. How would you describe these events?
10. What are the ways in which Crystal describes God making her feel ‘whole’, and why is this feeling so important?
11. What does Crystal see as her mission from God? What made her realize this mission? Who do you think you are called to be?
12. Crystal defines God’s message as the following: ‘ God is real, and we are all worthy of His love and salvation because He finds us worthy.’ Crystal understands God’s role as a parent who loves His children. Do you think of God as a parent figure? If you had to define God’s message to you, what would it be?
13. Do you think that Crystal’s story of dying and coming back to life is important for us to hear? In what ways? What does Waking Up in Heaven teach us about blind faith?