Reflecting on the four Oblates who already make up our community in the fullness of the Kingdom, Eugene imagines their situation:
I presume that our community above must be placed quite close to our Patron; I see them at the side of Mary Immaculate and, consequently, close to our Lord Jesus Christ, whom they have followed on earth and whom they contemplate with delight; we will receive our part of this fullness if we render ourselves worthy of them…
Letter to Hippolyte Courtès, 22 July 1828, EO VII n 307
“The true object of all human life is play. Earth is a task garden; heaven is a playground.” Gilbert K. Chesterton
I love the idea of a playground. After my conversion experience I started by saying that when I died I would not be content with being at the back of the room, jumping up and down to look over the heads of others so that I could see my God. And almost immediately after realising that I was not satisfied, but wanted to be up at the front so that I could see God without any interruption. From there I moved to wanting to be sitting on the lap of Jesus – no longer content to look from afar, until even that was not enough and discovering that I wanted to be fully one with Jesus, to be a part of, nothing less would suffice.
I don’t know how life after death works, but I do know that I will be one with all – God, Our Lady, Jesus, you, me, everyone. There is a very real connectedness now that will only be enhanced once the limits of body and time are no more. Death will bring a wonderful freedom in our becoming who we are. I am not in any hurry for death, save to be with those I love and know. To be in the presence of… Perhaps that is where the joy comes, knowing those we love are no longer fettered by the limitations of this life, and that they truly are waiting for us to join them. To be where we have been created to be.