Just A Thought

 I saw the Garden of Gethsemane over 25 years ago. Just not in person. My father-in-law, who was also my pastor, was able to take the trip he had long dreamed of to see The Holy Land. Since the church he led funded his trip, we arranged for him to call us during a Sunday Service. We heard him describe the place he was standing, half-way around the world; it was the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed the night before the mob and the politicians called for his crucifixion. His voice was laden with emotion as he told us about olive trees and rocks that may have been there at the time of Christ. Hearing him describe the garden was the next best thing to being there.

I saw heaven recently. Just not in person. It was, once again, my father-in-law who described it to me. Over the past few years, he has been experiencing the unsettling symptoms of Alzheimer’s. He no longer drives and has trouble remembering anything. He requires constant care and must be monitored 24/7 so he does not wander off and put himself in harm’s way. The disease has progressed to the point that he often does not recognize his own wife or children. I mention these things only to let you know that he is not in any shape to make up an extravagant story.

Just a few days before the writing of this story, my father-in-law began struggling to breathe and complained of chest pain. Then he began to describe a bright light and beautiful voices. Aware that something significant was taking place, his daughter called and put us on speaker phone. For the next hour or so we all listened to him describe heaven. Neither he nor his family were in heaven, but it was the next best thing.

He was not articulate - it was too real for that. It was more like he was amazed and overwhelmed, saying things like, “It’s so beautiful, it’s so beautiful. The people are so happy. Oh, do you hear it? The singing is so beautiful.” We could hear him gasp for air and then he would continue saying things like, “It was so worth it. Don’t quit. It’s so worth it.” On occasion he would take a deep breath and talk directly to Jesus, telling him how thankful he was and how much he loved Him. Knowing my father-in-law’s weakened mental condition, we were overwhelmed at the intensity and clarity of the experience. He was getting a real glimpse of his eternal home.

Then, for a good while, he coherently addressed each person who was in the room and those who were on the phone. He talked to them as he might have done so twenty years ago, telling them how much he loved them. He pleaded with each one to be sure to make heaven their home, because he was sure he would soon be going there and wanted everyone to join him there some day. Then, he began describing the beautiful things he was seeing until he was  exhausted.  We hung up the phone and everyone went to bed. The next day his daughter told us that later that night, and early in the morning, he was back to wandering in and out of the house, disoriented and unable to remember his experience. 

While he may never have another lucid moment on earth, I will remember the night I saw heaven second hand - through his spiritual eyes. I will also remember the thankfulness my father-in-law expressed to God that night. It is the kind of thankfulness I hope to foster deep in my own heart. We don’t know how long my father-in-law will be with us, but we will always be thankful for the little glimpse into heaven that he gave us. And, this Thanksgiving, we will be a little more passionate about all the good things God has done in our lives.

# posted by John W. Hanson @ Sunday, November 29, 2020