Note: Toward the end of his book All Things New, John Eldredge offers questions for people to hold onto the hope in Jesus’ Second Coming and the Restoration of All Things.  In this occasional series, I will share the answers to those questions from my prayers.  Hopefully, you’ll find it inspiring and helpful.

“Here is a good beginning — what are the first three things you plan to do when you enter the kingdom?” (p. 201)

First, eating a piece of chocolate with the Virgin Mary

Since my 2016 diagnosis of lactose intolerance, one of the toughest things to give up was milk chocolate.  So rich, so yummy and yet so regrettable to my digestive system.  All those childhood treats of Reese’s Peanut Buttercups, Snickers and Milky Way disappeared from my diet.  Good people since then had offered me vegan-friendly chocolate treats.  But it’s not quite the same.  So imagine this:  When I enter the fully realized Kingdom of God, the Virgin Mary welcomes me and hands me a Reese’s Peanut Buttercup.  (Why her?  So many reasons!!  Mother of God, Marian consecration, our close friendship, my complete trust in her, etc.) We savor and take our time with the treat, instead of me gobbling it down as a kid without a second thought.

Next, playing baseball with my childhood best friend

In April 2017, my childhood best friend Harold died.  I had mentioned his death in my review of novitiate.  One of my favorite memories of him was playing baseball in the driveway shared by both our families.  Harold would smack line drives down the driveway, across the street and into the front yard of the opposite house.  I pulled the ball into sides of the houses, which was considered a foul ball.  How trilling it would be to see him again and play a game in that old driveway on a warm summer day.

Feasting  with family and friends

Jesus would call all of us inside for the feast. It would be like those gatherings for Jonas’ House of Chicken in California.  Only this time, Jesus would be the chef.   Friends from throughout my life would be at the table.  My parents and my sisters would join in the harmonious atmosphere.  We would all swap stories.  I would have the biggest smile.

I leave you with John Eldredge’s question: “What are the first three things you plan to do when you enter the kingdom?”