Tag Archives: heaven

Heaven

Yes, it’s for angels. It’s a Wonderful Life. Clarence rings the bell.

I read that Pope Francis is about to let Jews into Heaven. Permit me some space.

In college I was forced to take two philosophy courses and two religion courses, they were all religion. One philosophy course, the Friar said don’t think, just repeat what I tell you on the weekly multiple choice exam.

Forced into a religion course because the teacher (not a Friar) didn’t have enough students to stay, I took American Evangelical Tradition. I was 18 and didn’t know better. He was called “D for Dalton.” He gave everyone a D.

We learned about speaking in tongues, snake handling and tent revivals and he told us we’d have to do doctoral-level work. I was 18. I wrote my 20-page thesis on the financial practices of Billy Graham. He didn’t like it and gave me a D.

Dad told me if I ever got anything under a C, I would be taken out of school and have to leave home and get work without a degree. I was paying 1/3 of my tuition and wasn’t allowed to work during school. At summer break I packed everything up and went home to tearfully tell him I got a D. He asked what happened, then said “it was only religion. And I said a D average!”

Yes, I was Deans’ List after that and started going to Mass. Even getting rides to a Latin Mass downtown. My priest, mentor, advisor, teacher and friend died last year.

I do not know what will happen to me, or about heaven. I am glad the HRC church decided on a Franciscan, for once, who cares about living beings. As a lapsed Catholic, I wonder what authority he has to allow Jews into heaven. If it’s the Heaven I envision the Jewish people have been there for many thousands of years and do not need Pope Francis to gain entry.

Perhaps if I’d written my thesis on this I might have gotten an A. Or a B, he didn’t give out A’s. Just my thoughts as I watch the sunrise. Dee

Dogs in Heaven

My path took me to a Franciscan college before I knew it. I believed in St. Francis of Assisi as a child growing up in the HRC church. Of course there is a place for our loved ones where we’re destined to go.

Pope Francis told a young boy whose dog had died that there was that place. My first cat Nathan (gift from God) never let me get the last word in even as he took his last breath in my arms. He said “I can’t believe they let dogs in.”

Not too soon, but I look forward to seeing my dear friends when I go. Oh, both Nathan and Mick loved dogs. Chani, my first rescue dog, loved cats and raised Mickey; as does our Zoe (Greek for life). Cheers! Dee