I really have no idea how heaven works

THERE are lots and lots of wonderful things that happen in this world that are beyond my ken, but that I am happy to enjoy.

There are lots of natural phenomena I experience that take my breath away – from the northern lights to watching one of the dreaded invading crows (or is it a rook?) in our street tearing away at a piece of cardboard to ensure it is the right size to fit his nest.

Some of these things those more scientifically minded than I can explain but there are things that happen that are beyond even the most high-ranking scientists’ range of knowledge.

The events of this coming weekend fit that bill.

By the time this newspaper comes out it will be the Friday known as Good Friday when, for people from the Christian tradition, the death of Jesus is remembered.

There are those who can, and will, argue about the historical accuracy or otherwise of that particular event and of what it led to.

They will argue even more about whether anyone could possibly rise from the dead as we celebrate Jesus doing on Easter Sunday morning.

Such arguments for me seem to miss the point of what Easter is about.

No one can dispute that the accumulated knowledge of the human race is only partial.

That means that we have to live with the fact that there are things we have yet to understand and explain and even encounter. Could that not include things spiritual?

I really have no idea how heaven works. I don’t know how everyone fits in or what anyone does there for all eternity.

What I do know is that without the spiritual dimension in my life, my life does not seem complete – and for me it has been encountering the living Christ in everyday life in the 21st century that has rolled the stone away and opened up all sorts of new possibilities for me.

Can I dare to suggest we have a choice this weekend?

The choice is this: to stick to the chocolate and the hallmark cards and treat this weekend as a spring holiday – we can do that.

Or we can dare to check out what it means as a holy day.

I know which I’ll be choosing.