A well known preacher was talking to his congregation about
heaven and hell. It went something like this.
"When I speak of Heaven," he said. "Try to
let your faces show the happiness that you feel inside. But when
I speak of Hell - your normal faces will do."
I was thinking about that again when I was in church this week. I do
find it strange that people who have just received the 
Lord in communion, walk back t their seats looking worried, sad or
generally unhappy! It is amazing what has just happened - that moment
of grace when heaven and earth are united. Awesome! How can we be
anything but overwhelmed with the knowledge of God's love and filled
with joy at the realisation of our acceptance by him, through Jesus?
And, maybe, our faces could show it!
I must confess that sometimes I want to dance back t my seat
(OK, so I'm Anglican!) but I can't help smiling at those around
me. And several people look at me and respond with beams of joy
- we know that this is a moment of supreme happiness and we are
delighted to share it with someone.
On Sundays, when I go to receive a blessing, I always turn
my face upwards (symbolically towards my Father in Heaven) and
smile as I receive his love. Similarly, at the end of Mass, I
"look up" to that love about to descend on me as the
priest blesses us and sends us out. Whenever I ask my earthly
father for something --or know that he is about to give me something
- I always look into his face, as I know that there I will see
his love for me. Why should it be different when I am thinking
of God?
Maybe it's time we let our bodies show our emotions more.
Maybe it would be all right to show that we have joy and peace
that is not of this world. Maybe people would respond to us differently
- maybe they're just longing to share something but don't know
how.
And maybe, just maybe, that moment of earth and heaven uniting
will stretch into the whole day and our faces will show that
thoughts of Heaven bring joy, excitement and happiness, always.
Wouldn't that be great?
Sue Whitehead
