Heaven

When I was younger I had two expectations of Heaven.

1. My cousin, April, who has cerebral paslsey, will be able to see me (she is blind). Know who I am (she is severely mentaly hadicaped). Be able to go for a walk with me (she is in a wheelchair) and be be able to tell me about her life and hold a conversation with me (she is completely mute).
   
2. In an extremely childish way. I hope that in Heaven I will be able to breath, see clearly, and be able to withstand pressure of swimming underwater. Just cause I love swimming but hate being bound by the body and our land loving ways.

But after reading 50 Days of Heaven by Randy Alcorn. My thoughts of Heaven have definitely changed. There is more to look forward too and more to prepare for. Using my talents to refine skills God gave me to do more good in this world so I will be better prepared for Heaven. Just having a better understanding of the logistics of Heaven is interesting too. You dye, go to like an interim Heaven, then go to New Earth, which is what we really expect Heaven to be like. We will have jobs and something I found extremely comforting was knowing that there is no reason why pets wouldn't be there either. So Dainty, my collection of fish throught the years (maybe I'll get to go swimming with them in my perfect body), and guinuea pigs will all be there too. We will have even more meaningful relationships then we could ever imagine, not just with God, but with our friends and family as well. How cool would it be to sit down and talk to my great-great grandmother about what life was like for her in Sweden when she was 22? There are endless possibilities and an infinite amount of time to explore them all. Reading this book also helped me realize that thinking about Heaven isn't as morbid as I thought it was. When you think about it, I will be spending more time there then I do on any trips or vacations, so why shouldn't I spend more time planning/researching that destinate then I do for my shorter trips?

Anyways, what are your thoughts on Heaven? What do you think it will be like? Include the childlike ones too!

Thoughts on Heaven

I was fortunate enough to get a copy of Randy Alcorn's 50 Days of Heaven: Reflections That Bring Eternity to Light, while I was working as a lifeguard at First Call's Family Retreat at Wildhorse Canyon a couple of weeks ago. So far I have loved reading it and gaining more perspective on Heaven and what happens after I die. Something I hardly ever give any thought too.

Last night while I was reading Day 20: Christ's Resurrection Body: The Model For Ours, which focuses on Philippians 3:20-21, "The Lord Jesus Christ...will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." I learned that our bodies will be resurrected in new and improved physical forms. Not just ghostly forms, glittering around Heaven. This was exciting to think about. But I did have one question floating around my head.

Will we still have scars in Heaven?

I know when Jesus was resurrected He showed His hands and feet which bared the scars of His crucifiction on them to His apostles. But will we?

The reason why I'm pondering this is because, when I was 13 I was in a ski accident and had a titanium rod inserted into my left femur bone. With this came a huge scar that runs down the entire length of my thigh. This scar plays a huge part in my identity, something I cherish and reminds me constantly that certain luxuries (like walking) shouldn't be taken for granted.

Now, I'm stuck wondering if in Heaven will I still have my titanium rod? I don't think so, I trust that God will return me to my original form. However, my scar I would like to keep. And I also look forward to living in a body where my shoulders don't hurt constantly from overuse from years of water polo and swimming.

Oh glorious day.