6th November

And another fairly good day. I can’t claim it as being completely tear free, but certainly it came quite close… so far. It helps, being far more in control emotionally as getting too upset messes up my health. I went to church this morning and unexpectedly we had a guest preacher, a guy I’ve known for a couple of decades but meet infrequently. So then I ended up sharing a little of Jane’s passing and that brought a tear to my eye for sure. His daughter came to my daughter’s wedding a couple of weeks ago so he catches up with ‘headline’ news. But to hear of one more couple remembering me in prayer is rather humbling, especially when he shares that he almost died with a serious health scare just a few weeks ago... he’s fully recovered now from what I can see. But there are so many needs amongst those I know, in every area of life, and I really do need to move my own prayer life back up a notch somehow.

Unfortunately I’ve lost a little of my regular walking routine, for all sorts of reasons, so today I found my way back to Kedleston Hall and the woodland walk was as enjoyable as ever. I love it. And before long I started thinking of heaven again, pondering on Jane’s wellbeing. Of course she’s fine, it’s just that we shared everything for so many years and now there’s something we’re not sharing. But I can use my imagination and who knows maybe a little God inspired inspiration. So my walk was in the beautiful sunshine of a chilly autumn afternoon, though as I stepped out a little I certainly did not feel the cold and I wondered about the weather in heaven. Does it get cold there? Does it rain? Are there even different seasons? I suspect not, though I can’t possibly know as I’ve not been there and the Bible has little detail. Really, I do not even see the need for a sun and moon as the Bible talks of the glory of God illuminating the New Jerusalem which one day will come down from heaven. And I don’t see that heaven needs to abide by the normal physical laws of the universe; as unless it’s ‘parked’ in some hidden part of the galaxy, where we’d never see it, it’ll be in some spiritual reality. So our understanding of ‘normal rules’ need not apply, but they might, as Jesus is in heaven, right now, waiting for the day when he’s sent back to planet earth. And he very much has a physical body, one that can eat and drink as well as pass through walls… we really don’t know much of anything do we?

But I can see Jane walking through heavenly woods that parallel my own experience, though much, much more special in every possible way. And the big difference would be that she’ll have a new love in her life. A new companion to cuddle up to in her down time after her brisk walk. Yes, I’d be amazed if she didn’t have the heavenly version of the King Charles Spaniel she so desperately wanted to get in her last year!

Luke 24:35-42 ‘Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread. And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost! “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet. Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish and he ate it as they watched.’ (NLT)