Heaven of Happily Ever After

I’ve heard the stories all my life, of heaven and hell and what it will be like to spend eternity in each respectively.  As a child, the stories were simple and it was easy to believe them.  As a child, I also believed in Santa, Cinderella and the Tooth Fairy.  As a young adult entering college, the stories taught were more factual.  Using Scripture as a reference, the undeniable Truth was portrayed within the frame of mysteries yet discovered.  As a young adult, it was still easy to believe.  As a young adult, the surrounding world shouted differently than what I believed, but the harshness of the world’s story only solidified what I believed.

In heaven, there will be no more tears and nothing to fear.  In heaven, there will be no more death and no reason for pain.  In heaven, all will be well and beautiful.  In heaven, there will be an eternity of Peace and Love and Light.

In hell, there will be eternal darkness and anguish, eternal separation from Beauty, Peace, Love and Light.

As an older adult now facing midlife, I read articles and listen to broadcasts of the world’s harshness that has not diminished in force from young adult years.  There is more hatred and jealousy at family reunions than at a meeting of the United Nations.   There is as much condemnation, blame, shame and oppression in American churches as in the caste system of third world countries.  Nations attack nations, separated by an expanse of geography and culture, yet united to claim rights and power over the other based on fear, greed and ignorance.  Overpopulation plagues the globe, yet many sit at home alone, lonely and forgotten.  The stories of life are always so, so complicated.  As an older adult in midlife, I have wondered of late if this is life now, why would I want to experience hell for eternity when it feels like hell every day now? Is there a difference?

Squeezed between all the articles of anguish, attack, darkness, evil, hatred and strife, there is yet one more section to read.  In Healthy Living, you can learn how to do this and that to support a balanced life and to live longer.  As an older adult in midlife, I have wondered of late if this is life now, why would I want to live longer?

In heaven, there will be no more tears and nothing to fear.  In heaven, there will be no more death and no source for pain.  In heaven, all will be well and beautiful.  In heaven, there will be an eternity of Peace and Love and Light.  If indeed this is true, I cannot wait to live it for myself.

With Commitment and Serenity

Happy endings are for fairy tales.  Predictability plots the story line.  The handsome prince meets a fair young maiden.  Against all odds and penetrating all barriers, he sweeps her away in a whirlwind of glorious love and dastardly foes.  Alas, the couple are united at the altar of wedded bliss and they live happily ever after.  The world at large and the kingdom they rule are changed forever by the freedom and healing that comes from two souls united to be one.  Eternally committed and with deep serenity, they walk into the sunset, eager to face and conquer life together.

Happy endings are not guaranteed in the stories of life.  Constant change plots the story line.  The prince may not be handsome; the prince may indeed be a lowly serf.  Against all odds and from behind impervious barriers, he may not have the perseverance nor the wisdom to sweep her into a new reality.  Alas, the couple fights the ongoing battles of two becoming one; the world around them feels the tension and wishes them well, from afar.   Committed but broken, with guilt-laden anxiety, they step into the law chambers, ready to begin a new life together, separately.

The fairy tale started predictably enough.  Her beauty increased as did his love.  With her, he discovered his purpose in life.  With her, he woke up and became alive, perhaps for the first time it seemed.  As they stood at the altar, his 6-2 frame towered over her easily; her 5-3 frame humbled him overwhelmingly.  Her hand in his seemed ever so small and fragile as he slipped the band of commitment on her finger.  Now, he is sat on the deck, watching the sun slowly set.  The tree frogs have begun their night song.  The river mirrors the orange pink sky.  All is right in his world, all is at peace.  He reaches for the hand that once seemed ever so small.  The band of commitment is still on her finger.  He clasps his hand around hers, positioning her fingers between his.  He lets the lifeless arm rest on top of his strong one, accepting the contrast of her frailty above with the metal arm of the wheelchair below.  Eternally committed and with deep serenity, he made a choice one day to always be strength for her.  One day at a time, actually, for commitment and serenity plots the story line.  The world around them witnesses hope against all odds; the world around them witnesses Love.