I remember thinking, as a little boy, about the horrors of burning in hell if I lived a life that was not up to God's standards. How could one just keep burning like that? Certainly goes against the laws of thermodynamics. Seeing pictures in religious books of people in flames and hearing the fire and brimstone speeches of my Bible teacher at the Baptist school I attended in junior high were enough for me to begin my life-long questioning of what happens to us when we die. So about the age of 10 I subsequently began my quest to become a saint. Wasn't crazy about the idea of having to be dead in order to get this promotion, but nonetheless, I was going for it. No way was I getting charred for eternity. I touched the stove...that was enough.
This lasted for one summer. I did everything right. Didn't fight with friends, rode my bike on the sidewalk and not the grass (really), prayed every single, stinking night, listened to what my parents told me and then actually did it, and in truth, found it to be a big pain in the butt...by September I was spent and had resumed the sneaky, trouble-making ways of my short 10 years. But the damage had been done. The fire, within me, stoked. And I began wondering why God wouldn't want us all back with him. After all, this was his setup.
We start with him. We come here. We're given a body...great. It dies. They all do. We know this. See, the instructions before conception are given...
GOD: There are your parents.
US: Them?
GOD: Best we got at this moment.
US: Can we see who's up next?
GOD: No. They're about ready.
US: Can I stay here with you?
GOD: Uh, why don't ya go with them. I'll be here when you're done.
US: Done with what?
GOD: Your body.
US: That thing? Looks restricting.
GOD: Yep.
US: So how long do I have to stay?
GOD: How long you wanna stay?
US: Can I play it by ear?
GOD: You got 12 years.
US: That's it?!
GOD: It's all I need from you.
US: So this is all about you?
GOD: I love you. Good luck.
And off we go. While on Earth, we behave well at times and not so well at others. We have pain and pleasure. We laugh and we cry. And we never forget that we are going to die. The reminders are all around us; namely other people dying. One minute here and then...not here. But where the hell would we go if not back to him? That's where we started, right? Aren't we returning? Plus, God seemed so nice. Would he really send us...ahem, down there? He did say, "I'll be here when you're done." Was that only for certain people? What about those who didn't follow the rules? Or didn't believe the way a book told them to believe?
If heaven is seen as a place of reward, well then sure, let those who fought the good fight, in. All others, go to...you know. But maybe it's something different.
12 years later...
US: So this is heaven?
GOD: Nope.
US: Then where is it?
GOD: You just left it.
US: What? That? That was heaven? All that stuff happening on Earth?
GOD: Yep.
US: I thought heaven was wonderful?
GOD: It is.
US: That is not what I had envisioned.
GOD: You wanted something more like in the pictures. Harps? Angels? Flowing robes? Bearded white guy?
US: Kinda.
GOD: When people are born, they go to heaven. When they die, they come back to me. Heaven is just the name associated with me. Don't be confused. Everyone who chooses life goes to heaven. And don't let the label of me and marketing fool you. I am not bound by any descriptions, words, pictures nor teachings. I am much more than that...and so are you.
US: So, the stove?
GOD: Hot as hell, eh?
Pondering the possibility...for heaven's sake, have fun today!
Jerry Nehr
Thursday, May 10, 2012
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