Family by John R. Haws

	Family by John R. Haws

	For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been pondering several deep questions. One is about what happens to me after death and the other is about the future of my family. First, I’m wondering what my chances are of entering Heaven? Specifically, what is the probability that I will enter Heaven? In order to answer that question, I have to know two numeric values - the number of persons who are guaranteed entrance into Heaven (144,000 according Revelations 7:4) and the number of persons who have died since Jesus Christ died in 33 AD. Whatever the second number is, it is a very large number. The formula for that probability looks like this:

	(2) P_me = 144,000/D_all Where P_me is the probability that I will enter Heaven and D_all is the number of persons who have died since Jesus died in 33 AD.

	This, of course, assumes that I am one of the 144,000 chosen from the twelve tribes of Israel - which is not a good assumption. I’m most likely not one of the 144,000 chosen ones - not being of Hebrew decent by birth, marriage or heritage.

	Beyond that and more importantly, I want to get some idea, no matter how far-fetched, of what Heaven is going to be like. When I die, I want to be with my Lord and Savior, Jesus. And yet, at the same time, I also want to be with my earthly family. I cannot be in both places. I’m going to miss being with my wife and my sons. But, I look forward to seeing my Dad again - to hear his voice and his laughter. I’m curious to know if I will be able to talk to my grandfathers and great grandfathers. Who else will I see on the other side? Will Albert Einstein be there? Will I converse with Aaron Copland, Laurel and Hardy, and Mahatma Ghandi? What about Clayton Moore (the radio voice of the Lone Ranger for those of you who don't know who he was) and Jack Benny? There are so many persons I will want to talk to - if talking is allowed.

	There have been times in my past where I have felt all alone in this world. I have some times felt rejected and unwanted. I have known persons great and small. I have tried my best to do good. But I have not always succeeded. I have my share of human faults and shortcomings. I am by no means a perfect human being. Still, I love my immediate family and extended family dearly. I love Lanie D. Haws with all my heart. I love Jim Haws, John-John Haws and Joshua Jonathan Haws with all the love a father can have for his sons. I love the people I work with. I love the community I live in. I love this great nation, even when I disagree with our national leaders.

	Only now do I realize how much bigger my extended family is. It is bigger than this nation. It is bigger than this continent. It is bigger than this planet, Earth. So, If Heaven isn’t one big happy family filled with singing and joy and laughter, then I am probably not going to enjoy it. All my happiness in this life has come from being a part of a family, both as a child and as an adult. Take away my relationships to my families and I am nothing. People who hate life have no family. People who take their own lives have no family. Take away a human’s relationship to other humans and that person will surely die. All Humanity lives and breathes as one organism limited to one lifetime on the planet Earth.

	And while the family has all sorts of trials and tribulations, we simply cannot live any other way. We long to be a part of a family, even when we are not in a family relationship. No one can live alone. No one even wants to try to live alone. A single-cell organism dies when it cannot reproduce itself. Humans are no different. We live to regenerate life. Death is the end of the individual's life on this planet. But it isn’t the end of being. We simply go to another place where human spirits exist in harmony and where, hopefully, the family continues. Thanks be to God.

	October 2003 Return to essays