Prayer – Day 10

Where is heaven? We often think of heaven as being “up there” somewhere while instinctively pointing vaguely to the sky. However, when we say “Our Father who art in heaven” we are not banishing God to the outer corners of the universe; we are acknowledging his presence, his dwelling amongst us and in our world, our lives, our loves and our hearts.

Jesus often talks about the kingdom of God which is among us and not in some distant abstract place. Heaven is where God is, and where his love and peace hold sway. Wherever there is love and goodness there is a little slice of heaven. Wherever goodness, kindness and love flourish we can see heaven and touch the dwelling-place of God.

However, this does not mean that God is only to be found in the midst of our happiness and joy — he is constantly at work in even our darkest moments, supporting and transforming, giving life and peace. As Saint Paul says: “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).