Soaring to heights heretofore unheard of for a Christian—genre movie, now the 3rd highest–grossing music biopic of all time ($82.6 million as of early May) with a filming budget of 7-million, I Can Only Imagine, is also mopping up on tears in tissues. The song itself, by MercyMe about one’s reaction when they finally meet Jesus in Heaven, is a tearjerker for all true believers who are so indebted to the Son of God. The heart wenching story of the author of the song, Bart Millar, adds to the emotional pit–in–the–stomach. No spoiler alert here. You’ll have to see it for yourself.
Back to the theme of the song, the thought of what will happen when one first arrives in Heaven came to my attention after a recent flight when there was no one to greet me. That’s not unusual nor expected. I travel a fair amount and often arrive at an airport which might be a distance from friends or relatives. Often, when I go to Southeast Asia, I travel solo and am picked-up by a hotel driver. The driver will have that small placard which reads: “ALLEN.” That would be me. Now they are using tablets.
On social networks is a photo of a disheveled 30-something–year–old in pajamas standing at the baggage carousal with a sign that read something like – “Welcome back mom & dad . . . we ran out of cereal.” Another one embarrassed their pick–up with – “Welcome back from Rehab.”
In time past, at this present airport, one of our sons and daughter–in–laws, with grandchild in tow, would be there to greet us. Hugs were first on the agenda. On one occasion, a very sad one, our good friends Doc & Ruth were there to pick us up. This was the day after our son had been killed. The hugs were long and hard. In fact, I ended-up knocking Doc’s coffee out of his hand. They, too, had experienced the loss of a child just a few years before. She had been murdered.
I knew no one would be at the bottom of the escalator on this day, but there were people waiting for their friends or relatives. One couple embraced for a long time. But no one for me and I’m okay with that. I’ll get to see my friends soon enough.
Sometimes I wonder what the greeting will be like in Heaven. Will an announcement be heard over the heavenly intercom of my arrival or will my loved ones just sense it? Will my family and friends gather behind the pearly gates (if there is such a thing) in great anticipation to see me? Or will I bypass all of these to see the One who made all this possible—Jesus? I do miss those who have gone on before, but He is the reason for my eternal destiny in Heaven.
MercyMe asks—will I dance, stand, kneel in His presence? Will I sing or be able to speak at all. I can only imagine. But it will happen someday for those who are followers of Him. It’s just hard to imagine.
Stay Away from the Meatloaf
Dan Allen
11/6/2021
A Dog Leading the Way
Dan Allen
7/27/2021
The Speed–Breakers of Life
Dan Allen
7/10/2021
High School Reunion
Dan Allen
4/8/2021
"Skin, it's the thing that's in"
Dan Allen
3/13/2021
Emerging from a Covid Cell
Dan Allen
2/20/2021
'Twas The Real Night Before Christmas
Russell T Allen
12/17/2020
Christmas Catalogs
Dan Allen
11/14/2020
Cancel This!
Dan Allen
10/3/2020
Don't Judge By Its Cover
Dan Allen
9/8/2020
Our Plans Trumped by God
Dan Allen
9/5/2020
We Fall Down
Dan Allen
8/5/2020
Battle with a Bug
Dan Allen
7/13/2020
Be Sure Your Sin Will Find You Out
Dan Allen
7/3/2020
Setting the bar too low
Dan Allen
6/25/2020
Good is Evil, Evil is Good
Dan Allen
6/9/2020
Misguided Freedom
Dan Allen
6/4/2020
A Preaching Nightmare
Dan Allen
5/9/2020
Restaurant and/or Church Possible
Dan Allen
5/2/2020
A Good Dose of Cloistering Going On
Dan Allen
4/15/2020
So, Where is God in All of This?
Dan Allen
4/14/2020
I Finally Learned How to Wash My Hands
Dan Allen
4/13/2020
Fire Truck - Glory Train
Dan Allen
4/16/2019
Some Sins Seem to Do More Damage
Dan Allen
4/16/2019
The Canopy is Gone
Dan Allen
12/15/2018
Brushing Teeth with Iced Tea
Dan Allen
11/5/2018
Never in Danger, but Could Have Been
Dan Allen
11/4/2018
Another Festival
Dan Allen
11/3/2018
Cow Town
Dan Allen
11/2/2018
Dressing Down
Dan Allen
11/1/2018
#MeToo
Dan Allen
10/25/2018
All Alone Among 1.35 Billion People
Dan Allen
10/24/2018
Does Anyone Know What Time It Is?
Dan Allen
10/23/2018
Time To Be Spiritual Weather Forecasters
Dan Allen
10/22/2018
Words Change . . . But Someone Gets the Final Word
Dan Allen
9/4/2018
To Cremate or Not to Cremate
Dan Allen
7/15/2018
I Want to Hold Your Hand
Dan Allen
7/4/2018
I Finally Caught a Foul Ball . . . Sort of
Dan Allen
6/8/2018
I Can Only Imagine
Dan Allen
6/1/2018
Do Panhandlers Have Regulars
Dan Allen
4/8/2018
Can't Good Dogs Go To Heaven?
Dan Allen
4/3/2018
At the Taj . . . in pictures only
Dan Allen
1/24/2018
Cold, But Warm Inside
Dan Allen
1/22/2018
Don't Remove the Plastic
Dan Allen
1/12/2018
Put Your Big Boy Pants On
Dan Allen
1/9/2018
In the Spirit . . . or not?
Dan Allen
1/3/2018
You Could Cut It With a Knife
Dan Allen
1/1/2018
Personal Message Boards
Dan Allen
11/24/2017
Men Acting Badly, err Should We Say---Horribly!
Dan Allen
11/18/2017
History of Bible Fellowship Church of Ephrata
Dan Allen
8/29/2017
Large Crowd Diversion
Dan Allen
6/19/2017
Bikes, Bikers, and Trying New Things
Dan Allen
6/18/2017
Lessons from T-Ball for Churches
Dan Allen
6/17/2017
Authenticity of and in Jeans
Dan Allen
5/11/2017
Don't Let Me Fall
Dan Allen
4/22/2017
Have We Lost the "Awe-factor," Wonderment?
Dan Allen
4/21/2017
Bumped - Not Bumbed
Dan Allen
4/13/2017
Go Fly a Kite
Dan Allen
1/18/2017
What's In Your Bag?
Dan Allen
1/17/2017
Cultural Faux Pas
Dan Allen
1/13/2017
The Three Hour Trip Ends Up 23 Hours
Dan Allen
1/12/2017
Walking Headrest Cover
Dan Allen
1/9/2017
The Gift that Keeps Giving
Dan Allen
12/17/2016
Let's Keep Things in Perspective
Dan Allen
8/1/2015
I've Got the Nine
Dan Allen
6/26/2015
God Often Works in Mysterious Ways
Dan Allen
6/5/2015
I'm From Negadelphia
Dan
3/24/2015
Positive Spin
Dan Allen
2/16/2015
