"So, This Is Heaven"

“So this is heaven.”

“Yes, this is heaven.”

“Where I am going to spend all of my eternity?”

“Yes, where you are going to spend all of your eternity.”

I looked about me, my gaze going in all directions. Nothing, I saw nothing but light airy space.

Well, I am puzzled, where are the streets of gold, the millions of mansions, and beauty beyond all imaging? This is what I am thinking as I continue to look all around--not speaking, but thoughts must be read here for the voice speaks.

“Is this what you wish to see?”

The questions, the answers and the voice that was coming into my mind, raised another question in itself. “Who are you, where are you, at least show me a face that goes with the voice?”

In a blink of an eye, if it still blinked, there appeared a normal looking attendant, someone like you would see on a jet liner or at the bank window.

“Well, hello, thanks for showing up that helped.” So far, my impression of Heaven was not impressive at all. Like going through a processing area of the hospital lobby.

Still gazing about into the nothingness space, not even bright radiant lights to blind me; my attention was redirected back to the polite attendant.

“Now, you asked, do I really want to see gold lined streets or mansions?”

“Is this what you would like to see?” the attendant repeated.

“Well, no, not really, I was told that I would be greeted by all of my loved ones when I died and got to heaven.”

“One moment as I check for where they are and if they are available.”

“Excuse me, where they are and if they are available?”

Now I am really flustered, baffled and almost ticked, but hey, I am in heaven and those feelings are bleeped before they barely came on board. A calming understanding touch was placed on my shoulder like a reassurance of understanding love.

“Well of course, they are here in heaven, which means they are enjoying their eternity getting to have their hearts desires. Your father for instance, oh he is about to catch the biggest bass of a lifetime. Look you can watch his pleasure if you would like.”

Suddenly, in the space before my eyes, I was standing in the middle of a lake watching a scene unfold before me. There was my dad looking so young and vibrant, pulling the rod hard holding the fishing line taunt, reeling in, what must be a humongous fish to the boat. A big smile filled his face for he could not begin to contain the joy of the moment. Neither could I. This definitely was heaven!!

Then his eyes spied me and throwing the rod and reel down, caring less about pulling that fish in, out of the boat he came, grabbing me, embracing me in a hug that would take the breath out of me, if breathing was still necessary.

Tears of joy filling both our eyes, I stammered, “but dad what about the fish?”

“Oh that, he laughed I can have the joy of that moment anytime I think of it and want the experience again. Oh it has been so long, I am sorry you had to leave those you loved behind today, but oh how I waited for this moment!” He shouted.

“But I don’t understand, you knew I was dying, why then were you not the first one I saw? Why weren’t you there, when I arrived?”

“Oh you know how a watched pot never boils, decided just like the day you were born, it would be best if I busied myself elsewhere and leave the birthing to those who know what they are doing. Never mind that now; it was worth the wait, you're home child you're home!!!”

“My goodness you look and feel so wonderful, Heaven surely becomes you.”

Looking down at myself, I saw what dad meant. Gone was the flesh I left behind, gone was the overweight aching body, the thin gray hair that I had a hard time to get to look GOOD no matter how it was combed.

Now I was living in this perfect glorified body, and for the first time, I realized not only that, but all that I feeling was this great sense of love, peace, joy, and wonder. How could “WOW” ever describe any better all that I was experiencing? Dad looked at me, and realizing what I was going through, just as he did, for the first time—said, “Yeah I know and what is even more awesome, child is that this is for all eternity. This place, this joy never ends. Come on we have so much more to see, where do we begin your orientation.”

(to be continued)