I suppose we all have a perception of heaven – and maybe my ideas of what heaven will be are very different to the ones you have.  The will be formed by our backgrounds, culture, history, family, and circumstances.  But one thing I do know we will have in common when we reach heaven is that we will meet Jesus face to face for He will be waiting for us.  Perhaps reading this will light a spark in your own imagination to picture your heaven if you have never done so.   God bless you

What is heaven to you?

I see meadows of yellow, pink and white flowers, with lush grass bearing fronds of seeds, dipping dancing in the gentle breeze.  The meadows flow softly into the distance to a bright and sparkling sea, reflecting abundant light that glows with life.  Colours are rain-washed, clean and clear.  The air is fresh, and each breath brings health, flooding body, soul and mind with energy.  Overhead larks rise into the deep blue sky, singing their merry songs, conversing with one another in pure melody.  Further away, above the waves that whisper on the sand, large seabirds soar and swoop, clearly visible in the glorious light.  Tumbling brooks race and rollick down the hillside, to join the endless mass of shining sea.  Along their banks stand majestic trees, full of life, with roots buried deep in the moist soil, ever drinking from the streams.  The trees speak of permanence and new growth, bright green shoots of continuing life and dark mature leaves at season’s end.  They bear all kinds of fruit – apple, cherry, orange – luscious and full-flavoured.  The colours of fruit and trees against the foreground of the meadow, and the backdrop of forever-moving sea and cobalt sky presents a charming palette, pleasing to the eye.

Here there is harmony.  Baby creatures tumble together in delightful play – rabbits and fox cubs, kittens and lambs.  No longer a threat to one another there is joy and innocence, a purity in their game.  A small, black and white rabbit stops, ears pricked, nose twitching in delight.  A puppy barks in welcome, alert, little tail wagging its whole body!  The babies stop their game and turn to gaze at the top of the hill behind me.  In the blink of an eye they are joined by adults of their kind – each one focussed on the hill where gradually the light is becoming increasingly clear, until it pulsates with life.

As in a dream, I turn to see a man crest the hill and walk in energetic strides towards us.  The cacophony of delighted cries uttered by the creatures that surround me shuts out all other sound as they greet this man.  Yet when he speaks I hear his deep, gentle voice as if it was the only sound in creation.  With great joy he says my name – breathes it as if giving it life.

‘You are here at last,’ he says with a smile; and my heart leaps with joy in response to voice and smile and the deep love in his eyes.  I know I have come home.

‘I’ve been waiting for you to arrive.’  His voice warms my very being and I reach out my hand to take his.

‘Come with me.  I want you to meet my Father.’

And together we go, hand in hand, over the hilltop for eternity.