Heaven

Last night, I had a dream where I came upon a place in the beloved forests of my youth. There was a king size bed in this place, all made up with white sheets and blanket, just lying open in nature, and around the top of the headboard were sprigs of holly. I laid down on the bed and my God how comfortable it was! There was to be a gathering, I understood, down by the lakeside. My son showed up then and we walked together to the lakeside where we joined a group of people singing praise songs. We knew the songs by heart and we sang along with ardor.

I woke, considered this dream for a bit, and then slept again and dreamed this time of discussing the dream with one of my wives. Louise, I think. 

It was impossible, we said. Quite impossible. Just think of what would become of that bed in the open, without walls, without a roof, when the rain came and the snow and the winds. Surely it would go all soggy and gradually disappear into the forest floor. And how would one live in that place anyway during the winter? It was quite unreasonable, wasn't it? 

Faith and disbelief. Life and death, and death and life. 

The assurance of things hoped for. The conviction of things not seen. 

The conviction that there is no such thing as things not seen.

Pascal's Wager:

• if you believe in God and God exists, you gain eternal bliss. 

• if you don't believe in God and God exists, you risk eternal torment. 

• if you believe in God and God does not exist, you may suffer some finite disadvantages in this life.

• if you don't believe in God and God does 

not exist, you may gain some finite pleasures in this life.