Yesterday, one of my students asked the question, “Ms. HD, what if there is no heaven? What if you just lived a kingdom driven life and there is no kingdom?” My answer is always the same. I have been asked the question many times. My answer is, “I would still be happy that I lived my life the way I lived it. I want to live for others and love others. How can that be bad?”
I guess some people think they would look stupid if they lived a life like mine. Let’s get real, how many people have 4 children and put them through Catholic School? How many people follow where they believe that God is calling them and write for God daily for over five years? How many people enjoy talking to others about God? How many people wanted to teach theology, not be a teacher but teach about faith? From the eyes of our culture I am probably considered an idiot. But from the eyes of God he can see that I am just trying to fulfill his mission?
I believe with all that I am that there is a God. But even if in the end there is no God I will have no regrets because I am raising my children with love, kindness, selflessness and honor. How can that be wrong? If our entire culture truly lived this way would there be poverty, war or hate? This is the way of life that I think is best for all of mankind spiritual or not.
You ask “how many people…?” – well my family and I are another one with the same values! We never drove new cars or ate out very often….we lived on my husband’s salary and my teacher’s salary paid our 3 children’s education through college. It was worth every penny and no regrets. The bonus was and is all I’ve learned during the journey as well as the friends, colleagues and families I’ve encountered.
I’ve seen many things in the news and on “reality” tv that look pretty foolish to me, but I would not place a life, like yours, lived for others in Christ as one of them.
It occurs to me that maybe this place we humans call “heaven” may not exist in the way we can imagine it. Yet I have great faith that God’s ways are far better than mine and his ability to fulfill the promise far exceeds my ability to comprehend what he has in store for those who believe. So I would respond “My dear student, what if there is? What if you choose a kingdom-less life and it does exist?”