My Night in Heaven

Trembled hands on the door knob
What lies behind that closet door?
Many go in and none come out
A breath I suck in, pushing down my fear

Whisk of air brushes by as the door is opened
Rocks and pebbles surrounding the pond
Brightly colored fish basking in its warmth
Greenery and flowers etched its outline


Wooden porch swings handing from the air
Those that entered softly swinging
I wonder, really what is it
That makes their faces glow?


Slowly and unsure I walk towards that pond
My stomach uneasy, but I kept on.  
Children playing marbles
Their laughter a gorgeous vision that I could see

Mountains in the background, but oh so close
Tops covered in white
A sky so blue a completely new hue
A string of rainbows surrounding, adding to its beauty

Green trees covering the bottom
Leading my eyes to an ocean
It stands as high as its neighboring mountain
Filled with whales, dolphins and even sharks

They swim in harmony, friends, not enemies
But among them were some I’ve never seen
They didn’t exist outside of my dreams
Beautiful and magnificent, these creatures indescribable

Giant mushrooms covering this massive ocean
Colorful and comfortable
Hanging in midair
Worshippers basking in its glory

A breeze brushed past me
As I strolled the pebbled walk way
A stream following
Created with each step I take


Raindrops fall gently upon my shoulders
Darkening my hair
Though there are no rainclouds in the air
My hand reaches to catch a few

Immediately peace filled my queasy stomach
And I couldn’t control the laughter that expelled from my lungs
Bothered by no one at my outburst
Or even noticed I was there

Bending down to my personal stream
My fingers mingle with the water
Cool and cleansing at my touch
Tempting me to let it heal my soul

But, I turn and run through the awaiting door
Bibles, frankincense and myrrh
A woman in the middle of it asking a simple question
“Will you take the nails from His hands?”

Loaded with that question I turn to the other side
There they were, the Crosses upon the hills
Those who said yes lie upon them
Uncomfortable and in pain, blood spilling from their hands, their feet

Sweat poured from their bodies
Though they suffered much pain
There was no burden upon them
Only peace and glow lined their faces

My breath catching as among them I saw
My brother nailed to that cross
Wasn’t I the Christian in this family?
He, the one who never bothered

But with my surety that God existed,
Came the surety that this was simply Satan’s joke
And if I said yes, it would turn to the fiery pits below
Doubt rose, filling me quickly

It flooded everything inside me
I thought I might get sick
The woman repeated her question
Startling me and I uttered “No.”

She let me pass through the doorway
And walk along the path once more
This time, all I could see were the crosses
And the blessed that chose to answer “Yes.”

Tears poured from my eyes
That I had said, “No.”
I had betrayed Him
The One, who without hesitation took His place upon the cross for me.