I barely got started when the wind blew my hat off. That is kind of strange since the weather report said 1-2 mph out of the north. It was as cold as they said it would be. So I put my hat back on, pulled it as low as it would go, hunkered down and continued.
Eventually the wind died down and as the Psalmist directed, I lifted up my eyes. What a glorious day. It was cold, yes, but I had a heavy coat, a scarf, gloves and a warm home waiting for me. It was brisk and invigorating. I admired the clouds stretching across the sky and the sun shining through. And then I said to myself, “If it is this good now with my bad eyes and ringing in my ears, what will it be like in eternity.” I know that young people don’t think about it much but when you get to my age you start expecting the Great Transition, sometimes called death, at any time.
I am not expecting any big change and plan to make the best of the time I have here, but I am ready to go. If it is this marvelous now it will be truly awesome then. And I then am aware that I can’t even begin to comprehend the awesomeness of what is to come. If I could then it would not be something created by the God of the Bible.
I compare my expectations with what little I know of other religions. Since I am not a warrior and don’t plan to die with my sword in my hand, Valhalla is out of the question. The supernatural perversion of the afterlife that you find in video games makes no sense. The reincarnation of Buddhism and Hinduism leading to being absorbed by the Force seems depressing. Reclining under a palm tree with dates, wine and 72 virgins seems like it would get very boring, very fast.
I prefer the eternity that is created by the God who created the world I can see. I can’t understand it but then I couldn’t understand BLT’s when I was born either. Maybe eternity is long enough for me to like sushi. Because I accept the meaning of Christmas and Easter, that God became man in Jesus and died to pay the price for my sin, I am looking forward to finding out what is to come. As one wise person put it, if I am wrong I have nothing to lose.
I guess this is my way of saying Happy New Year and hoping for a glorious eternity.
homo unius libri
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