A man was complaining to me about a series of bad things happening in his life, and how he couldn’t help but think that more bad things happening was all his future had in store for him.
I retorted, “You’re headed to heaven, not to hell!”
He stopped talking. He let the point of my comment sink in and then laughed out loud. “I like that outlook a whole lot better!”
I had to laugh too. It had caught me by surprise when it came out of my mouth, but seriously. How often have you let mortal mind outline an ugly path in front of you as if you were headed to a place of misery instead of to a place of harmony and peace? Basically, it comes down to answering the question, “Do you see yourself headed to heaven or to hell?” Hell standing for a place of misery and suffering.
Heaven is home with God. It’s our eternal resting place with Truth and Love, where harmony reigns, and evil is nowhere to be found. Hell is not a real place where anyone ends up. It’s a sinful miserable way of thinking that makes one feel separated from heaven. And it’s dissolved with spiritual mindedness.
As we put on the Mind of Christ, part with sin, and live a holy life, we find heaven within. We find our eternal peaceful place with God.
It’s inevitable that we find heaven as home because we are children of God. And children of God live with their Father/Mother in their common home of Love. This outlook should dominate our mental horizon.
If you want to live happier and healthier, be sure you see heaven in front of you, not hell. Heaven is a much happier place to be.
The last verse in Mother’s Evening Prayer,.speaks somewhat to this issue.
I have leaned on this whole Hymn (207) prayerfully, countless times, often puzzling over the 2nd last line.
One day I caught a glimpse of what it may mean. When a parent tenderly comforts a distressed child, they will often smile as the tears subside, “there, feeling better now”? Heading to heaven always feels better.
My intuition from years ago felt like an answer and has seemed appropriate ever since.
MOTHER’S EVENING PRAYER
MARY BAKER EDDY
O gentle presence, peace and joy and power;
O Life divine, that owns each waiting hour,
Thou Love that guards the nestling’s faltering flight! Keep Thou my child on upward wing tonight.
Love is our refuge; only with mine eye
Can I behold the snare, the pit, the fall:
His habitation high is here, and nigh,
His arm encircles me, and mine, and all.
O make me glad for every scalding tear,
For hope deferred, ingratitude, disdain!
Wait, and love more for every hate, and fear
No ill,—since God is good, and loss is gain.
Beneath the shadow of His mighty wing;
In that sweet secret of the narrow way,
Seeking and finding, with the angels sing:
“Lo, I am with you alway,”—watch and pray.
No snare, no fowler, pestilence or pain;
No night drops down upon the troubled breast, When heaven’s aftersmile earth’s tear-drops gain, And mother finds her home and heav’nly rest.