The Reiki Blog

Finding heaven. March 10, 2014

“Who has not found the heaven below
Will fail of it above.”

—Emily Dickinson

“The Lord has strewn little signs of his presence throughout the universe.”

—Sri Eknath Easwaran, Words to Live By

“The Lord is knocking at the door of our hearts. Have we put a sign on the door saying ‘Do not disturb’?”

—Pope Francis, @Pontifex

Whether you believe in an afterlife, or that our earthly paradise is the only one we’ll ever know, it’s important to make every minute count. And that means living fully in each moment, appreciating each moment, enjoying each moment and the beautiful world around us.

It doesn’t mean rushing around multitasking, never seeing anything farther away than the latest text message, never giving our full attention to anything or appreciating the beauty of our world, the great gift God Creator has given us.

Fully being present to each moment is the way to find “the heaven below” and prepare for the one above. This does not mean being idle, but it certainly doesn’t mean mindless busyness for its own sake. As Jesus Himself said, “They also serve who only stand and wait.”

And let’s not forget the enjoyment part of ‘finding heaven below’, in the here and now. One of my favorite quotes is from a man who’d clearly mastered this art, Ryokan:

“Ten days’ worth of rice in my bag;
a bundle of twigs by the fireplace.
Why chatter about delusion and enlightenment?
Listening to the night rain on my roof,
I sit comfortably, with both legs stretched out.”

Just for today, find heaven.