Isaiah 25:6-9
On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all people, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The LORD has spoken." Isaiah 25:6-9 (RSV)
Talk about paradise! The best meats, finest wines . . . even better, no tears and disgrace. What a beautiful image of God’s ultimate victory over death and suffering; a joyous celebration.
I have had the humbling honor to be with several individuals on their journey to paradise. Many (especially children) will share what they think heaven will be like. Many times I had the ‘heaven conversation’ with a remarkable friend, Florence Phillips, a 95-year-old spiritual woman who saw death as her next odyssey. Yesterday I received a call saying Florence is now experiencing Isaiah 25. Florence was a force to be reckoned with. I met her when she was seeking funding from my foundation for her nonprofit, English Language Learners. In her 9+ decades Florence had a tremendous impact on thousands of individuals. She started ELL on her own — tutoring one student, then two, then three. She tutored in the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps before creating an impactful program, serving the needs of refugees and immigrants with free, volunteer-led tutoring, usually one-on-one, to enable social and economic opportunity. A one-woman operation, Florence recruited hundreds of volunteer tutors to serve thousands of individuals throughout the world. CNN awarded her their Hero Award. She made her last tutor/student match minutes before she passed. Her volunteer tutors will keep ELL moving forward. What a beautiful legacy.
Rather than a memorial or celebration of life, Florence wanted everyone to give daisies (her favorite) to someone who could “use a glimpse of paradise.” Today I planted daisies and bought daisies, a lot of daisies, to share with friends and neighbors, along with the last message Florence shared with me, written during her last hour on earth.
“I am an adventurer; I always was and always will be. As I leave this planet Earth, I am headed to my next adventure. Visiting the galaxies. When you see a bright star, that’s me. When you see a shooting star, that’s me, too. – I’m done visiting one galaxy and “flitting” on to the next. With Much Love, Florence”
Questions for Reflection:
- What is your vision of victory over death?
- How can you share an earthly foretaste of the feast to come with others?
Prayer:
Lord, We know you have prepared a place for us that is beyond anything we can imagine or deserve. Help us be mindful of that as we find ways to serve and empower others. Through us may others get a glimpse of heaven on earth. Amen
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