There are times I feel that there is more joy in the anticipation and greater fulfillment in the struggle to possess something than in the actual possession of that object. It is almost like going after the end of a rainbow, hoping to find a pot of gold, only to find out that the rainbow has moved on further away or even that it has gone. It is like preparing for a great celebration. There is the thrill of preparing the guest list, drawing up a menu, setting up the venue, looking after a myriad of details to make sure everyone has a great time during the event. This might take days or even months of nerves, hustle and bustle, excitement and joy in preparations. The event itself might last only a few hours, at most the whole day.
I do think about my final destination, maybe more these days than in the past. But I find my happiness and fulfillment in the here and now, in the present striving, in my current journey and struggles. I wake up in the morning excited and thrilled by what the day has in store for me. As I go through the day, I relish every moment and squeeze out every thrill and joy I can from each action and each encounter I go through. Now, if I can gather all the thrill and joy ever in my life and bring them all together in one here-and-now and if I can combine these with the happiness and fulfillment of arriving at my destination or achieving my goal and if I can experience all of this in one eternal moment, I think that is but a glimpse of what heaven is like. The eternal life promised to those who have followed Jesus.
Then Peter said, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life.”
Matthew 19:27-29