My True Home

Since we're entering the decade of our 60's, Jerry and I have begun to think about navigating this next season of our lives, especially managing our resources wisely. In light of that, we sought help from a financial consultant. A part of the process involved looking at our goals and dreams for the future. The end result for me has been the clear realization that my main emphasis in my life is HEAVEN. And this passion didn't just begin when I received the cancer diagnosis! It has been a secret obsession that I kept hidden under wraps lest people think I'm strange or not enjoying this current life or "too heavenly minded that I'm no earthly good"! But now the cat is out of the bag, so here ya go.....

I LOVE LOVE LOVE to think about the reality of heaven. Granted, we know very little but I DO know that it will be beyond what we can ask or imagine. I DO know that this life is just a shadow compared to the brilliant light of heaven. I DO know that, for believers in Jesus, this knowledge can help us keep this life in proper perspective. It's so easy to get so attached to our stuff, our positions, our temporary world that we fail to recognize that the veil between this life and the next is very thin. As thin as one fragile breath.

So, when we were asked to pick a time in the future at least two years away, I choose my 65th birthday which is about five and one half years out. What do I want my life to look like? Well I will either be living on this earth in miraculous health, spending my time investing in my grandchildren's lives, loving my family and friends, honoring God with my abilities...hopefully writing..... OR I will be living in my eternal glorious home filled with infinite peace, joy and love, laughter, beauty. Completely free from the difficult challenges of this earthly life. And the greatest joy of all will be receiving Jesus' embrace. Sure, I desperately want to watch my grandchildren grow up. I'm not in a hurry to leave here and will fight to stay with all I have. But it's a win/win situation! And I want to live that way! I don't embrace heaven because my life here is bad. I embrace heaven because it's real (we are surrounded by fake) and true (much of what we hear is false) and FOREVER (this life will end).

When I look in my new grandson's eyes and gaze at spring bursting forth in my yard, Black Rock Blue Sky or the powerful, churning ocean; 

I see heaven.

 When I hear my children's voices and grandchildren's laughter, the song of birds at dawn,  food sizzling in a hot pan, inspiring music:

 I hear heaven.

 When I am worshiping alone or with my church community, walking and talking with a friend, sitting around the table with family, creative journaling;

 I experience heaven.

 AND YET all of this is only

a black and white sketch

compared to the myriad of colors of heaven.

 May all of the beauty of this life remind us that even more beauty awaits us beyond the thin veil.

"Set your mind on things above, not on things that are on the earth."

What does this mean to you? How are we living that out? How should we live in light of eternity? These are questions to consider in the spring, summer, fall and winter seasons of our lives!