On Earth as it is in Heaven
In a previous blog post, “Sancastle’s Ashes”, I suggested the possibility that the treasures we store in Heaven could be who we are, and whom we choose to become throughout our lives [http://sandcastlefaith.weebly.com/blog-home/sandcastles-ashes]. But what if, by our final days, we still fall short of the “ideal” (because, yeah, I’d say the chances of that would be about, oh, 100%? Call me cynical...)
In Brian McLaren’s book “The Story We Find Ourselves In” [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0787963879/], one of the main characters, Neo, actually gets excited about the upcoming judgment. Really. Here’s how he describes it:
(p. 166) Neo: “After naming and forgiving and forgetting your many faults and failures, I see so much substance to your character, so much to cherish, so much of value, and it will now be set free, given a new beginning in my new creation.”
So, how the hell does this heaven stuff fit in a series of locus of control?
Well, I’ve got to say...heaven kind of sticks in my craw. I mean, really—harps, clouds and angels? (Not that there’s anything wrong with that...)
As our locus of control changes, I believe there’s room for growing and rethinking our perception of heaven.
For people with an external locus of control, it’s clear: consequences—you’ve been good/said the right prayer/followed the right ritual, and boom—reward=heaven= whatever floats your boat. Do the opposite? Boom—punishment=hell=the eternal kick up the ass.
As we begin to internalize our locus of control, we become heavenly minded, and our behaviour slowly changes to reflect our future home. We begin get out of the “So, what’s in it for me?” to a “What’s the best direction I can grow closer to God?” mindset.
Uh, oh—am I suggesting that we should get out our yoga mats, pashminas, and Birkenstocks, and spend the rest of our lives eternally navel-gazing?
Ever hear the old chestnut “That person is so heavenly-minded they are no earthly good?”
Jesus told us to pray “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.” [http://biblehub.com/kjv/matthew/6.htm] So clearly, constant self-centeredness is not in the books.
We are reverse-immigrants. Instead of immigrating into a new land, and sharing our past way of life, altering the new culture that is now our home, we are taking the culture of our future home, living it in our current environment, and altering where we live, in this place and at this time.
We can live out the belief: “By becoming heavenly on Earth, Earth can become heavenly.”
In Brian McLaren’s book “The Story We Find Ourselves In” [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0787963879/], one of the main characters, Neo, actually gets excited about the upcoming judgment. Really. Here’s how he describes it:
(p. 166) Neo: “After naming and forgiving and forgetting your many faults and failures, I see so much substance to your character, so much to cherish, so much of value, and it will now be set free, given a new beginning in my new creation.”
So, how the hell does this heaven stuff fit in a series of locus of control?
Well, I’ve got to say...heaven kind of sticks in my craw. I mean, really—harps, clouds and angels? (Not that there’s anything wrong with that...)
As our locus of control changes, I believe there’s room for growing and rethinking our perception of heaven.
For people with an external locus of control, it’s clear: consequences—you’ve been good/said the right prayer/followed the right ritual, and boom—reward=heaven= whatever floats your boat. Do the opposite? Boom—punishment=hell=the eternal kick up the ass.
As we begin to internalize our locus of control, we become heavenly minded, and our behaviour slowly changes to reflect our future home. We begin get out of the “So, what’s in it for me?” to a “What’s the best direction I can grow closer to God?” mindset.
Uh, oh—am I suggesting that we should get out our yoga mats, pashminas, and Birkenstocks, and spend the rest of our lives eternally navel-gazing?
Ever hear the old chestnut “That person is so heavenly-minded they are no earthly good?”
Jesus told us to pray “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.” [http://biblehub.com/kjv/matthew/6.htm] So clearly, constant self-centeredness is not in the books.
We are reverse-immigrants. Instead of immigrating into a new land, and sharing our past way of life, altering the new culture that is now our home, we are taking the culture of our future home, living it in our current environment, and altering where we live, in this place and at this time.
We can live out the belief: “By becoming heavenly on Earth, Earth can become heavenly.”
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