Part
of my Easter morning was unexpectedly spent at the cancer ward of UCI Medical
Hospital visiting my cousin whose wife is getting ready to depart home. I sat in silence knowing that none of my
words would help alleviate his pain and remembering how death always feels so miserably
unnatural. Memories of my first experience
with loss flooded my mind. It’s been ten
years since my brother left us and though now I bear it - the scar will never
lose its sensitivity until we meet again… People kept arriving in Easter attire to
accompany my cousin and to pray over his wife.
As I sat forgotten in a corner of the waiting room I gave thanks to God
for we are so fortunate to live in post-Christ times. We have the truth of heaven and the knowledge
that death has been beaten on the cross.
Christ is our passage home. What
better day to be reminded of this monumental truth than on Resurrection Day. Thus, before I left the hospital I reminded
my cousin of the truth of heaven and life after death hoping that it would give
him the solace that it had given me the day I was forced to say
farewell to my brother.
My Easter attire.
On
Friday, my sister and I watched Heaven is for Real and while it dealt
with the mystery of life- after-death and offered great hope I didn’t really
enjoy the film. The movie is based on the
real life account of a four-year-old boy, Connor, who has a near death experience
and travels to heaven. He returns to the
world and shares his experience with his father. While the details of heaven offered by Connor
are beautiful (I especially enjoyed learning that animals are also present in
heaven (smile)) the way the film depicts Pastor Burpo’s obsession and even
exploitation of his son’s personal encounter really bothered me. Moments after Connor privately shares some
details of his celestial journey with his father, Burpo approves a press
interview and the little boy’s experience becomes broadcasted to the entire
town. The acting is stronger than your
typical faith based film, but the storyline is super cheesy. Most of the film’s transitions are forced
especially the issue questioning the credibility of Colton’s experience to a
sudden conversion by the entire congregation. A simple Burpo
speech during a press filled Sunday service makes believers of all including
the atheist psychologist. I really wanted
to like this film, but as someone who has not read the book I thought it would
be more about heaven or even more about Connor- but it turned out into a story about Pastor Burpo taking a beautiful experience and using it to his advantage. As the film closed presenting a picture of
Jesus with green eyes and hippie highlighted hair and claiming that, that’s what
Jesus really looks like it was too much... Though, on a positive note, it’s great seeing more faith-based films making it to the box
office (smile).
Easter Vigil
The Catholic Church in Orange County welcomed over 1000 new believers this Easter.
The
issue of heaven and life after death is what brought me to the feet of
God. It’s what caused my initial adult
conversion and prompted my return to the Catholic Church and that might make me
an uncompromising critic on the topic.
As I mature and my life continues to experience loss it is heaven that
motivates and inspires hope. Knowing
that every time one of my loved one’s departs the angels throw a party at their
arrival in heaven and resting in the promise that because of Jesus I will see
them again always uplifts me.
Heaven is for real I just need to look at the cross to know so. Praise be to God!
No comments:
Post a Comment