Shoot for the Sun

When I was a little girl, I believed that the sun was heaven. Yes, that big ball of fire in the sky above us was heaven. I never quite decided if heaven is a place where God lives, or a place of God's Being - as in a place so consumed with God's love and presence that it just is God.

Now this concept made sense in my six year old and developing mind. It is difficult to imagine, especially as a kid, heaven not being a place and not having a specific location. Therefore, I decided to believe that heaven was the sun.

Sometimes, I still think that heaven could be the sun.

Think about it.

Its energy sustains all life on earth. Without it we wouldn't be here.

We can't reach it, or even get close to it. Not while our souls are still in our earthly bodies.

It is, quite literally, the "light of the world."

And the stars - those miniature versions of the sun - are God's angels and saints, sent out to watch over the world while we sleep. Or, perhaps they're the light from the lanterns they carry through their nightly vigil.

As a Roman Catholic, I believe that in everything we do, we must strive for perfection, with heaven as our ultimate goal. "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect..." (Mat 5:48) Christ calls us to be mediators of his love, and to spread the message of the Gospel to the whole world. He tells us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and imprisoned (Mat 25:36), and in doing these works to the best of our ability, we are striving for perfection.

We are called to do as much good in the world as we are able. To spread happiness and love wherever we go.

So walk in the light, and shoot for the sun... "because even if you miss, you'll land amongst the stars."