Close your mind and imagine with me for a moment. You're standing on a deserted beach listening the waves crash upon the shore. You look out and see the beautiful sunshine beaming down upon the blue water. The sun's rays bring warmth while brightening your soul. Listening to the waves, it calms your senses. You glance behind you to see the dark, deserted, overgrown woods. The bushes and trees are mangled so close together, enclosing it's mystery and sadness.
From out of nowhere, a figure wrestles its way from out of the woods and falls upon the beach. The figure kicks off the overgrown bushes that appear almost alive and try so hard to pull the figure back into its darkness. Looking tired, depressed, and worn from the travels of the woods, the figure manages to stand up. Suddenly it walks toward you. Closer and closer it comes. As it does, the figure's appearance begins to look oddly familiar. Naturally it does, because it's you! You and the figure stare at one another for a moment looking lost. Fear and sadness rushes over you but then you realize there is nothing to fear, it's just you. You...and...uh...you....are suddenly enveloped together, staring out at the waves crashing against the shore. Once again the warmth of the sun calms your soul. You feel thankful to have found that down trodden tired part of you, safe inside you now, away from the woods. You feel thankful for the warmth of the sun and the beauty of this place.
Thank you? Why would someone write that? Then you realize where you must be. All the peace, all the serenity, all the calmness? Ah it must be Heaven! The note must be from Him, yes, Him, the big man upstairs. Why on Earth would He thank you? Yet He does. He thanks you for coming here to this place, seeking eternal serenity, for allowing Him to give you the peace, to rest your mind. He thanks you for befriended the one, that you that was lost in the woods, almost trapped and never able to leave. You almost laugh at the thought of God thanking you but you realize it's true. All the years of thanking Him, He is thanking you.
You look out towards the east of the shore and see a glare of light almost blinding you. The sun is heading west now so it's rays bounce off the beauty of the object on top of the rugged the mountain in the east. You try to focus and walk down the beach to get a closer look. Sure enough, it is what it is. God has kept His promise. The golden mansion sits high on top of the mountain. You had heard rumors all your life of the streets of gold. You wonder if it's really true. So naturally you make your way east.
Yet the moutaintop sits so high, it seems impossible to get to it unless you swim towards it. That doesn't seem possible either for the waters are rough and crashing against the many many rugged rocks surrounded the beach and mountain.
From out of nowhere, you see a tiny boat. Not the newest looking thing but still a boat. It doesn't look very held together but perhaps you could use it anyway to cross to the other side. Yet the fear starts to set in. "I can't do it. The waters are too rough. I would surely drown." Yet you are driven to see the place, to see its beauty, so why not? Get in the boat!
So, you finally get your nerves up and get in the boat. Thankfully there is one paddle. At least there is a paddle, you think. Two would have been nice but one will do. You start on your journey to paddle in the rugged water. Not long after you have been paddling, you realize it's pretty easy. You keep your eyes towards the shore, the prize. As you stare, you see them, your loved ones. All those that have gone on before you. They are waiting for you at the shore. What? Is that...? Yes, it's my grandma, it's my...! On and on you see them all there smiling and waiting for you.
But wait....they are not smiling....
..............They are laughing. And they keep laughing that you begin to laugh with them. "Wow! they are really really happy to see me." You feel overjoyed and continue to laugh. Suddenly you realize why they are laughing.
He's behind you, yes, your True Friend, the One who brought you Here, brought you to the serenity, the peace, and that part of you, the Giver of Life. He's been behind you the whole time walking in the water, pushing you along while you thought it was you paddling all along. You thought the paddling was easy but now you know why, for He did the work for you.
What's even more funny? The water was never deep. It was shallow all the time. You could have wadded through it all the way. Yet God wanted you to conquer your fears, go for the streets of gold, while He pushed you along.
Isn't it great that there is an End waiting for us? A place full of serene and calmness...? I go there every chance I get when I call upon God. He gives me a quick glimpse and assures me that there will be a beach waiting for me when I get there.
God Bless You!
Seek Heaven out in those dreary dark moments in the Woods!
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