A Book and a Funeral

Some of you may know that Santa brought me a Nook for Christmas. As a person who loves the look and feel of a book in their hands, I wasn't sure. Would I like this new-fangled electronic reading device? After a few months, the answer is an emphatic "Yes", which leads me to my blog post for today.

I bought the book, "Heaven is for Real", by Todd Burpo for my Nook. Why? Simple. It was inexpensive and had plenty of good reviews. So I figured, why not?

I'm so glad I did. Written simply and from the point of view of a father (who just happens to be pastor of a small Nebraska church), the story describes what happens when Burpo's three year old son, Colton, nearly dies after his appendix bursts.

Without giving away too many details, once Colton recovers, he casually refers to an apparent visit he made to heaven. There are things he mentions that he had no way of knowing. His parents are understandably astounded. Colton's observations astounded me, too, making for a swift and memorable read.

But why, might you ask, am I dedicating a Critter Alley post to this book?

A couple of reasons. All dedicated animal lovers will be happy (though perhaps not surprised) to know
that among other things, Colton reports seeing animals of all kinds in heaven. And why not? You only have to look into a beloved pet's eyes to know they have a soul.

Second, events of this past week made me do a lot of thinking about life after death. My boss of over 30 years passed away after a three year battle with cancer. He was only 61 years old. This was a man who approached every task with a strategic plan. His determination and drive brooked little in the way of discussion. He reminded me of an unstoppable force, and nothing kept him from achieving what he set out to do.

That single minded characteristic annoyed more than a few people, but he never let that fact bother him. His job was his life, and I can't recall a time when he gave less than 1000% to do what he felt was the right thing to do.

So naturally we thought he'd beat cancer, too. Yet it wasn't in the cards.

The experience made me think more about what happens once our short time on earth is over. If you've had any type of religious upbringing, you take on faith that the soul continues on after the body fails. Though faith is a beautiful thing, I must admit the logical part of my brain loved hearing young Colton's observations about what, and who, he saw during his near-death experience. The book brought me a lot of comfort this week, and if you are grieving, it might be something that speaks to your heart, too.

Many people attended my boss's funeral on Thursday, February 17. The sun blazed down on us, providing a beautiful morning that reached 74 degrees. Practically unheard of in Missouri on a mid-February day. It wasn't a surprise for me. I'm pretty sure my boss arranged things. If anyone could, it would be him.

Though plenty of tears flowed, we still had to smile at the thought of our boss negotiating with God to have good weather for his funeral.

You haven't lost any of your skills, Ray. You're just using them in a brand new office.

Heavenly Questions

Image from Artistic Threadworks

Do animals go to heaven?

I'm sure anyone who has loved and lost a pet has considered this question.

There are some who argue most effectively that they do. There are others that argue quite vehemently that they do not.

The only thing we know for sure is that none of us knows for sure. We each can only have an opinion on the matter.

For me, I can't imagine that God would create creatures, charge us to care for them, allow us to become attached and yes, even love them, and not let us see them again in whatever form He chooses in heaven.

After all, isn't heaven a place of happiness and joy? And aren't animals a large part of providing happiness and joy for humans? If so, how could they not be a part of our afterlife?

Nowhere in the Bible do I read that God only cares for humans. It does say that "His eye is on the sparrow". In fact, the Book of Job tells us, "...the soul of every living thing is in the hand of God."

I believe that animals, even as they have a place in creation, also have a place in heaven.

And I'm not alone. Here are a few observations from far greater thinkers than me.

"Be comforted little dog, thou too in the Resurrection shall have a tail of gold."--Martin Luther

"You think dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you, they will be there before any of us."--Robert Louis Stevenson

"Shall we, because we walk on our hind feet, assume to ourselves only the privilege of imperishability?"--George Eliot

"I think God will have prepared everything for our perfect happiness in heaven. If it takes my dog being there, I believe he'll be there." The Rev. Billy Graham

My friend, Peggy, sent me information on some thoughts regarding this issue in a devotional by John Lawler. I think he expresses the belief of most critter lovers quite well.