Is heaven real?

Mica Anderson had asked that question a million times throughout his life. When his parents died, he asked. When his dog died, he asked. When his wife died, he asked. He asked in between those times and all through out the hours of the night. He asked and asked and got no response from the supposed God who is supposed to live in heaven. Now more than ever Mica needs an answer to that question.

He turned 100 today. A huge milestone and accomplishment. An honor in many people’s eye. A curse in his own eyes. He lived through so many deaths and so many trials. He faced cancer and won. He came out weak but he made it and recovered perfectly. He faced a dire car accident that should’ve taken his life but he made it with only a few scratches. It was a miracle. He even survived against a pack of wolves out in his woods. He was chopping wood for his lovely wife and came across them. They were hungry and crazy and were foaming at the mouth. He had his gun and shot three and somehow managed to out run the other two. He still did not know how he was able to run as fast as he did that day. Right now, he didn’t care. Right now, all he wanted was peace. Then the question came again.

Is heaven real?

Mica groaned in his plush chair and threw the Bible on the ground. He had on three blankets with the heat cranked up and yet the cold swirls of snow outside somehow made him cold. He felt the cold deep into his old, brittle bones as he pulled his robe closer. He stared the terrifying book he cracked open for the first time sprawled against the floor. He stared at it in rage and confusion. He was reading Genesis and it made not a lick of sense to him. The birth of creation made little sense. It is hardly scientific and is composed of whimsical magic. It didn’t bring him peace and came out in Mumbo Jumbo. He grunted, disappointed in himself. A prized scientist who once worked at NASA was contemplating nonsense and has been contemplating nonsense for most his life.

He heard the door open with a resounding bang. Mica didn’t move to get up or yell. His granddaughter would find him eventually. He waited until her head popped around a corner. She had auburn hair and golden freckles. She may have been thirty with her own kids and husband, but she still looked like his five year old baby girl.

“Grandpa! What on earth are you doing in here? It is so hot, and are those blankets? Grandpa! Do you remember what your doctor said?” She always did this. Comes in his house like his little nurse. But she really was. Most of his small family lived too far to see. His granddaughter, Sarah, moved here specifically to take care of him. He wished she hadn’t.

She turned the temperature down and stole one of his blankets.

“Confound it woman! Let a man be comfortable how he wants to be comfortable. Leave me be!” His words alway fell on deaf ears.

“Absolutely not, grandpa! Why if grandma was here, she have a fit with you! The kitchen is a mess and the maid is apparently fired! Grandpa, what it the world!” She suddenly trips over the fallen Bible. She froze and stared at it in wonder.

Mica felt an uncomfortable blush Grace his cheeks. He grunted and let a cold, indifferent exterior become his defense. He did that too often, but he didn’t have much long anyways. He could feel it. The feeling stretched from his chest to his stomach and even took up residence in his head. He felt it press and pursue him and today was the day he wanted to finally give in. First, he needed the question to be answered.

“Is heaven real, Sarah? I just ask because I have not long now.” He coughs, the pressure building in his chest. Sarah rushed to his side with tears streaming down her face. She grabbed her hand and he squeezes it but was hard.

“Oh pa!” She wept. Tears coated he cheeks and dropped down her sweater. Mica could almost not understand why she acted like this.

“Help me, Sarah.” He cried silently. “Read me something from that blasted book that will prove to me heaven is real. I - I want it to be real. I want to believe I will go to heaven. Not enough time.” He chokes. The pressure set to kill.

She sat at his feet and read to him Romans 8. She read and didn’t stop. They wept together, neither of them really knowing why. Mica slipped away. He disappeared into the abyss and found freedom. Not the fake numbness that some people believe. No, Mica died believing in heaven, in God, in peace that passes all understanding. He died and went to heaven and saved his granddaughter by opening the Bible and throwing it on the floor.