Expanding Our Vision of Heaven

As Halloween approaches, horror movies abound featuring zombies, evil witches, werewolves, vampires, and psychologically damaged murderers. The novelist Evelyn Waugh made an intriguing observation about this phenomenon: “The human mind is inspired enough when it comes to inventing horrors; it is when it tries to invent a heaven that it shows itself cloddish.”

When asked what heaven will be like, most people speak in vague terms of seeing Jesus, being reunited with deceased loved ones and pets, having no pain, and being granted their every wish. We tend to focus on what our mind and body would want (A never-ending banquet! No more arthritis! Hugs and kisses from our parents, spouse, and friends! The chance to ask God any questions we want!).

Perhaps we should spend more time contemplating what our soul hopes to find in heaven. Here we can get more specific, because it is the same thing our soul longs for here on earth: Lush forests brimming with marvelous birds and animals, oceans and lakes of sparkling water, and rolling fields of fertile soil. People of different cultures celebrating each other’s food, customs, and art. Universities and industry buzzing with medical discoveries and engineering feats. The absence of weapons, poverty, and discrimination. Endless inspiration provided by musicians, storytellers, poets, and artists. A worldwide ethos that values and nurtures every unique being.

If we can choose to introduce horror and death into our world through monsters both real and imagined, we also can choose to introduce delight and life through the better angels of our being. We can do a better job of inventing an astonishing heaven that has its origin right here on earth. Imagine that!