The Draw Toward Heaven

Most of my days are lost in the doing of many things. My “to do” list is never exhausted; I am always copying things forward to the next list. The various competing items that shout for my attention are all seemingly valuable things, worthwhile things. And on most normal days, they are what they appear to be, the stuff of my life, the work of my hands.

I believe what the Jews have always believed. It is a sacred task to provide for one’s family. It is holy work, taking care of those you love. But even the sacred can at times get tedious. One shouldn’t say that, but then the truth wouldn’t be told.

Two days after Christmas this year I drove my family north to East Charleston, VT. Our Uncle Henry (Metcalfe) had died and we were off to a family funeral. Christmas had been hectic, as usual. I was tired, but I knew I wasn’t as tired as Uncle Henry’s family was bound to be. We left about 7 AM to get to the church in time for the ceremony.

We arrived early and enjoyed reuniting with family members we had not seen recently. We settled in for the service, and somewhere in the middle of the preliminary music, I started to feel it. I think Geri was playing “Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, Thou hast loved us, love us still . . .” -- you know the hymn. Others followed. Songs of heaven, songs of victory. I could feel the pull from the other side.

I love living. I am in no rush to die. I want to see my children graduate from high school. I would love to know my grandchildren, should the Lord permit any to me.

But on that day, feeling the draw toward heaven, I understood John Wesley’s desire in a deeper way than ever before. “I want to land safely on the heavenly shore!” I want to gather around His throne, sing his praise, hang out with his people. And I am more ready to go there today than I have ever been before.

That is the goal, isn’t it? Get to heaven – take as many people with me as possible. I like to think that my “to do” list takes me in the same direction as the desires of my heart. Most days it does. But somedays, when the draw of heaven is heavy on my heart, I’d be willing to immediately lay down the list for a one-way ticket. Maybe we can talk about it this summer, when we sing some songs of heaven together.