Let Go Of 'childish' Ways Of Contemplating Heaven
As a child, thinking about heaven as going on “forever and ever” – and all we would do is sing “Alleluia!” – scared me to death!
Now, my understanding of heaven has changed. St. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 13:11, writes, “When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became an adult, I put aside childish things.” This has happened to me in my understanding of heaven, bringing me deep peace. We must strive to let go of “childish” ways of thinking about heaven and hell – allowing God’s Spirit to re-create within us an adult understanding of these realities as far as we can grasp them with our limited minds.
How can we understand heaven? An experience of a young couple falling in love may help us understand heaven. Imagine the time when you and your “beloved fell in love.” Maybe you planned a picnic on a gorgeous spring day with the shining sun, the cool breeze blowing. You packed a picnic basket, took a Frisbee, a blanket. Arriving at your ideal place about 10 a.m. near a small stream, you spent the entire day there. Suddenly you realized it was 5 p.m. You asked, “Where did the time go? We can’t believe we’ve been together for seven hours. Why it only seemed like a few minutes, perhaps an hour!”
Time “stopped” because you were totally absorbed in the enjoyment of each other’s company. Your love took you outside of time into a deeper level of existence where time doesn’t exist. Heaven may be like that. We will be so caught up in God’s love for us, our love for God and others, that heaven will be a loving “now.” Heaven’s love has no need of time because we will live in the ever-present “now” of God’s love.
People often ask, “Will we know our loved ones in heaven?” My response is, “Why would God bring us together on earth only to separate us in heaven?” That would be rather cruel, don’t you think? At the Vigil Service on the evening before a funeral, the Church prays -- “My brothers and sisters, we believe that all the ties of friendship and affection which knit us as one throughout our lives do not unravel with death … Lord our God, death is not the end, nor does it destroy the bonds that you forge in our lives.” However, the love we shared with those here on earth is no longer limited only to them. It will extend to all in heaven and to all on earth.
Another aspect of the life of heaven is this: United with God in heaven, our hearts then will be turned outward – like God’s heart – toward the world. St. Theresa the Little Flower expressed this very simply when she said she wanted to spend her life in heaven doing good on earth. Immersed in God’s love, those in heaven can do nothing but pray for us that we may someday be with them. They intercede for us in our daily struggles, world peace, etc. We call this the Communion of Saints – we are intimately united with those who have gone before us in faith.
This is how I picture heaven –being caught up in God’s present “Now” of love is exhilarating. It serves me well as I age. My vision of heaven gives me strength, joy, and peace as I look forward to being with God – who loves us more than we can ever imagine – with my loved ones, and all those who have served God in this life.
