This morning "That's Heaven to Me" by Sam Cooke popped into my brain. Most people know his secular music; "don't know much about history, don't know much biology...," "a change is gonna come," etc, but did you know he started as a gospel singer? Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers. The next time you're at the store, find a copy if you can. Interestingly, even after he moved away from gospel he would often weave these songs into his concerts. Check out "Sam Cooke, live at the Copa"... amazing album.
Friday I found myself on the golf course wondering about heaven (a regular thought-topic of mine). What will it be like? Will we get to play golf? If so, will every hole be a "hole in one?" And what's the fun in that? Much of the enjoyment in life is overcoming adversity, growing, learning. If everything in heaven is perfect, wouldn't this also somehow become boring? At the moment I was happy because even though I had sliced into the woods, I overcame my position by punching a low flyer between two trees and bogeying the hole (I hope for bogey on any given hole). I wonder, will we get seasons in heaven? Will I feel the wind in my face, the sun on my balding head (speaking of, do I get my hair back?), the smell of fresh cut grass & honeysuckles? Will we have the feeling of satisfaction in a perfectly made egg sandwich or a cat that randomly jumps in your lap and says "I try not to let it show much, but I really do love you". Maybe my issue is that I see life as "real", and I can't get the image of cartoon angels playing harps on clouds out of my mind, leading me into a false sense that heaven is fake, controlled, without reality, boring. Adversity makes us feel alive... so much so that we often crave it. Why is that?
So, do I have faith that heaven is good, that it is where I want to be? Absolutely. Do I get scared thinking about my life ending? Absolutely. Should we share our doubts and fears with God about His plan? Absolutely. I heard a great analogy once: going to heaven is like being born. You have no idea what to expect on the other side, so regardless of how much better it will be we don't want to leave the comfort of what we know. Why do you think babies cry when they're born? "put me back in, it's cold out here!"
A conversation with God, regardless of the topic, is always good. Just make sure you listen for His response...
What's heaven to you?
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"That's Heaven to Me" by Sam Cooke
A lovely sunset at the end of a day
Someone helping a stranger along the way
that's heaven to meThe feeling I have when I hear a touching prayer
It makes me know the Lord is somewhere
Even the birds flying around in the air
that's Heaven to me
In order for me to see, I know
The goodness of my, my Savior
Is everywhere to me
Saying friendly hello to everyone that they meet
Even the leaves blowing out, blowing out, blowing out
blowing out on the tree
that's heaven to me
