Monkey in the pot everyday!

I was on a trip with Steve Saint back in the fall and I heard him tell a story that I can’t seem to shake. Several years ago Steve was in Ecuador having dinner with Grandfather Mincaye and some of the other Waodani people. That day a monkey had been killed which meant only one thing….feast! Absolute feast! Killing a monkey down in the Ecuadorian jungle is not exactly an easy thing to do. Especially when the population is not exactly booming with the critters. Sometimes it may be several months before any monkeys are even sighted. So this night, everyone was stoked to be eating a high protein, energy filled substance. Around the fire, discussion of heaven began. I’m not sure exactly what that conversation looked like but I’m guessing it was Steve explaining to the people his best interpretation of heaven. I’ve always loved the sound of heaven; gold streets, pearly white gates, mansions, but how do you explain all that to people who have never walked on streets before, people who have never passed through gates and people who enjoy the simplicity of sleeping in a hand made hammock made from hand picked raw materials. I actually would have loved to been there to hear how that conversation progressed. But progress it did and with Mincaye’s wisdom, he finally explained to everyone, “heaven is going to be like monkey in the pot everyday”. Wow! Monkey in the pot everyday!! Imagine something that you long for, something that you really need, something that makes you feel so good yet it’s so hard to find and when you find it you know in just a short time it will be gone again. And then imagine having that something everyday for the rest of eternity. It’s actually kind of hard to imagine because we, as Americans, have so much at our finger tips. But in it’s most simple form; heaven is going to be eternal fulfillment! Heaven is going to be amazing! Heaven is going to be everything we hope it to be and probably nothing like we think it to be!

Dave Votemann, who was riding with Steve and I, made another point that also had a lasting impression. As he was listening to Steve’s story that day, he spoke up and said, “I was having lunch with Mother Teresa one day”. You gotta love a story that starts like that! He went on to explain how much Mother Teresa loved the thought of spending eternity in heaven. She went on and on about how amazing it’s going to be to actually see our Creator, to actually be reunited with our Creator, to know that we are finally back home where we belong. She went on and on about heaven but ended by saying, “Heaven will be amazing, but there’s a part of me that wishes our Creator would have never disclosed to us just how awesome heaven will be. So many people serve out of obligation, striving to reach this perfect place called heaven”. Mother Teresa went on to say, “I wish we all would serve one another out of a genuine love and not out of religion/duty and obligation”.

Personally, I hope heaven is “monkey in the pot everyday”! It’s going to be a party I’m sure! But, whatever heaven turns out to be, may we live each and every day knowing that we are loved by the creator of the universe and he has called us to the greatest task of all time….LOVE!