I had an epiphany today on the way to work. Epiphanies are great aren't they? Suddenly your eyes are opened to a whole new perspective and your perception of of a person, place, or concept is totally turned around. In a spiritual sense, epiphanies are revelation: Realizations of greater truth through the influence of the Holy Ghost. A difference though is that revelation is more of us remembering something that was long ago forgotten, rather than figuring something out for the first time.
So which one did I experience today? I suppose that it's six in one & a half dozen in the other, because all that's important is what I thought, and not how it should be defined. In fact, the only time I see the definitions of instances like this mattering at all would be when one chooses to deny God's hand in something & supposes that all was accomplished in their own strength.
To better understand my new found perspective, I suppose that I should fill you in on how I had previously felt about heaven. Yes it its a place where we'll have knowledge, eternal families, and live in the presence of God & Jesus. That's all great, and it's al stuff we learn before ever choosing to be baptized, it was the next round of details that had me concerned.
I remember as clearly as anything the disappointment I felt as a new member of the Church after having a discussion with Gerry Webster (my bishop at the time) about eternal progression. The very 'Mormon' concept that there is still learning, growth, and much to do in the Celestial Kingdom. Work!? Are you kidding me? Whatever happened to sitting pool side, sipping on a Mai Tai? Oh no way, I didn't want to keep working forever, especially after working this whole life. Would there at least be Summer Vacation?
My position on the matter softened after coming more to a realization of what that work entails, and I was softened even more later on by the love I have for my wife and son. Still though…work?
So here we are, on the ride to work this afternoon I'm having a discussion with a slightly unsavoury coworker, who is having a remote starter installed in his work truck. It wasn't so much a proclamation of joy on his part as it was a declaration of his hatred for getting up extra early on -40 degree mornings to go out and start the vehicle. We all hate that. I hate that. Then something funny happened.
In a very short instant I felt all the distain I have towards those negative aspects of every job I've ever had. That's when I realized that my eternal labours won't have any of those things. No 4am alarm clocks. No unfair treatment or long periods away from home. No frozen extremities or sore bones. No breakneck schedules or angry customers. Not even any forearm burns from the doughnut frier! (I used to be a baker). Yes we'll be working in a sense, but not by the sweat of our brows, and even more importantly the work will be doing will be what we love.
It's now a commonly held belief that a key to happiness in life is having a job you love. So since I'm going to love what will be keeping me busy, I'm going to be as happy as a clam forever. Come to think of it, not doing anything gets really boring really fast. Sitting poolside for eternity with a fruity drink in your hand and nothing to do would be maddening, and weirdly now seems like a better picture of Hell than Heaven.
So buck up, we've got work to do & it's going to be fantastic.
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