Your Earthly Journey: How are you coming in your earthlyjourney? Where ...

Your Earthly Journey: How are you coming in your earthlyjourney? Where ...: How are you coming in your earthly journey? Where will you end up? In the Middle Ages, it was believed that there was Paradise on Earth...

How are you coming in your earthly journey? Where will you end up? In the Middle Ages, it was believed that there was Paradise on Earth. This place was described as having perfect beauty, peace and immortality. Such an ideal place was believed to be located in the Near East. It was considered to be the Garden of Eden that the Bible tells us about in the Book of Genesis. This garden was never destroyed with the Fall of Man.

In William Morris' Earthy Paradise (4 vols., 1868-70) was a collection of narrative poems that deals in its prologue about the flight of Norse sailors from the Black Death and their search of Earthly Paradise. Americans' journey though in their daily life is involved with everyday situations. Americans are known to attend school for years, have careers, be affiliated with a religious group, have families, friends, meet with strangers and experience quite a diversity of culture. Many Christians believe in life after death, but they are believers and non-believers alike that do not know what to expect. Regardless of what our beliefs are, we are all on a journey and we know we will eventually die. Christians believe that after death they shall rise again and end up in heavenly paradise.

Right Comfort

As we journey Americans wish to do so quickly and comfortably. There are a lot of devices that are pushed in our stores to accomplish this end. Consumers use right services, right chairs, adjustable mechanisms, or stay in a Comfort In like that in Missoula, MT. They wish to sleep right and improve their home efficiency by having comfort in every room. Use a Water Furnace, have a geothermal unit, with satellite TV programs that are easily accessed and convenient. Ride a Hybrid and Comfort Bike-Shopper for moving comfort when buying merchandise or groceries, and ladies are known to wear a Comfort-Sports Bra for playing sports. With these right comforts, we are all moving rapidly in style as some will proudly say. But where are we going? Where will we end up?

Walking Without A Destination?

It seems to some folk that are journeying as though they do not appear to have any clear destination in mind. Many take flights with their imagination and may even descend to their underworld. This has been the motif of many stories in mythology and folklore of all peoples. In such stories the descent is generally made to capture an abducted person or someone that has died. Sometimes such a descent is to seize treasure or discover secrets about underworld rulers. Myths like these appear in Greek, Jewish, Slavic, Hindu, Chinese and Japanese mythology.

We do not even have to reflect mentally about folklore, for today many of these similar situations are played out in real life. Persons journeying are involved with chases, crime, burglaries, interlude, drama, friction, murder, assassination, discoveries and a myriad of other intrigue. Regardless of the form, our vocation keeps us going to different places in life. “Where?” Some may ask. Everywhere, in all directions, doing good and bad, it seems. Nevertheless the Scriptures are clear that the Kingdom of Heaven is won by the faithful through grace. Some worldly and bad characters like most of us, will surely end up in the same place with reasonably good men and women that have tried to live balanced and respectable lives.

Your Inner Voice

Our inner voice seems to be on a journey of its own. At times it praises us for successes we enjoy. Then, there is disillusionment. Some situations may seem bizarre and we wonder where we are heading. At another time, our psyche assures us that we are right to be extremely happy. Maybe because we have won a scholarship to a prestigious university or has been named man or woman of the year by Time magazine. You can picture the accolades in your mind's eye. Having reflected on how blessed you are you thank your stars for your good fortune.

Your inner voice may take other flights. As you are journeying you reasoned how conscientious you have been at work. Having no reservations about your thoughts you seem encouraged about the good people in our world. Soon dissolution creeps in. You start doubting who you really are. You feel now you deserve more from life. People you observe are not treating you as kindly as they should. Your feelings are interspersed with anxiety attacks but why? To you these seem to reveal some basic need that you cannot quite put your finger on. You have to have friends, persons you can talk with and share some of your innermost thoughts.

You have tried a psychiatrist but it does not seem to help the way you wish. Your thinking directs you to latch on to a Christian friend to help find answers that appear to be evading you. This you will try first before seeing your priest for counseling at a church that you have lately joined. Now you find yourself surrounded by Christian love for you did discover in your Christian friend that you met at Barnes & Noble, a gem of a person. He is pious, goodhearted and strikes you as having a happy disposition. Your thoughts have started to be peaceful as you journey on, for you have found what you see as real peace in your life's dream. You reasoned, it is not fame or fortune that matters most, but contentment and inner-happiness. You now say to yourself, “I'm set in this life and ready for God's Kingdom.”