Reconciliation In The Afterlife?

Last Sunday I spoke from the pulpit on the nature of the interim loss we experience when those we love depart earth to "run on ahead." I was asked a question about a "longed-for" reconciliation that appears will never happen in this life. So, will it happen in the next? I say yes.

And the reason may be discovered in the following story, one that comes from the wisdom tradition in/around the Mediterranean -- a redemption story that may well bring light on the issue.
 
"There was once an old man, who had lived a long and very happy life on a beautiful island.  He loved his homeland greatly.  There, on his island, all his family, through the generations, had lived, made their homes and earned their daily bread.  So, when the old man realized that he was approaching the last days of his life, he asked his sons to take him outside one last time.  He knelt, and gathered a handful of his native soil, and clutched it tightly in his gnarled old fingers.
    
"Soon afterwards, the old man died and came to the gates of heaven.  The angels greeted him joyfully.  “You have lived a good life,” they exclaimed.  “Welcome to the kingdom of heaven.  Please come in.”  So the old man tried to cross the threshold of the heavenly kingdom, but as he did so, a kindly angel said, “You must let go of the soil you are clutching.”  “Oh no, I could never do that,” he cried.  “This is my native soil, the earth of my beloved island home.”  The angels were sad as they departed, leaving the old man wandering, lonely, outside the gates.
    
"Years passed, but the angels came again.  They brought the old man a taste of the heavenly banquet and feasted with him there, outside the gates, trying to persuade him to come into the fullness of the kingdom.  He wanted so much to join them for all eternity, but again, when they asked him to let go of the soil he was clutching, he couldn’t bring himself to do so.  And again, they had to leave him standing there, alone.
    
"Finally, after many more years had passed, the angels came again, and this time, they brought with them the old man’s granddaughter, who had grown old in the meantime and had died herself.  She was delighted to see her beloved grandfather standing there.  “Oh Grandad,” she cried, “I’m so happy you are here.  Please come and join us in the heavenly kingdom.  We love you so much, and we want you with us for all eternity.”  The old man was overwhelmed to see his granddaughter there, and in his joy, flung out his arms to embrace her.  And as he did so, the soil slipped right through his fingers.  With that, great joy burst out, and the angels finally led him into his heavenly home -- and the first thing he saw there was the whole of his beloved island, waiting there to greet him."

There it is.  Things earthly, clutched so tightly, must/will be relinquished, albeit the good revealed in earthen living, I contend, will be transformed into even greater good.  But those things which are held so close in this life which impede us from becoming who we are meant to be in this creation, I am led to believe, must be released.  So, reconciliation will come.  But we are not exonerated, even one bit, to not give every effort in reconciling attempts this side of the grave. 

Over my years in the church I have come to the conclusion that here is the dilemma:  sometimes things inside of me make it impossible to be the child of God I am intended to be.  At other times things outside of me make it impossible to be the child of God I am intended to be.  That is the struggle which we all must live out, each in our own way, with the tools we have been given.  Oh, it doesn’t make "reconciliation" with those from whom we are estranged any easier.  But at least it defines the problem a bit.  The question is, can we give up "the piece of earth we cling so tightly too" for that Kingdom which is far, far greater?  In the end, the old man did.  In the end, we will too -- but must we wait till the end?  I pray not.

See you in church,
E. Taveirne