{"id":85,"date":"2010-11-23T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2010-11-23T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/blissblog\/2010\/11\/heavens-here-on-earth.html"},"modified":"2010-11-23T01:00:00","modified_gmt":"2010-11-23T01:00:00","slug":"heavens-here-on-earth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/blissblog\/2010\/11\/heavens-here-on-earth.html","title":{"rendered":"Heaven’s Here On Earth"},"content":{"rendered":"

How many of us go in search of Heaven, having been taught that it is some distance ‘place’ we go to when we die and only if we adhere to a certain set of regulations and rules?  In no way do I mean disrespect to anyone’s spiritual beliefs who may be reading this entry. My experience and set of life lessons tells me that Heaven can be felt in the presence of kindred spirits, in love making, while dwelling in nature,  listening to music, in the midst of prayer or meditation, even while doing the dishes.  It is a state of being, in my book…not a specific destination.<\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font> <\/p>\n

One of my favorite songs, that my friend Molly Nece (a.k.a. Molly Sunshine)reminded me of that sparked this blog is by singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman<\/font><\/p>\n

Heaven’s Here on Earth <\/font><\/p>\n

You can look to the stars in search of the answers
Look for God and life on distant planets
Have your faith in the ever after
While each of us holds inside the map to the labyrinth
And heaven’s here on earth<\/p>\n

We are the spirit the collective conscience
We create the pain and the suffering and the beauty in this world<\/p>\n

Heaven’s here on earth
In our faith in humankind
In our respect for what is earthly
In our unfaltering belief in peace and love and understanding<\/p>\n

I’ve seen and met angels wearing the disguise
Of ordinary people leading ordinary lives
Filled with love, compassion, forgiveness and sacrifice<\/p>\n

Heaven’s in our hearts
In our faith in humankind
In our respect for what is earthly
In our unfaltering belief in peace and love and understanding<\/p>\n

Look around
Believe in what you see
The kingdom is at hand
The promised land is at your feet
We can and will become what we aspire to be<\/p>\n

If Heaven’s here on earth
If we have faith in humankind
And respect for what is earthly
And an unfaltering belief that truth is divinity
And heaven’s here on earth<\/p>\n

I’ve seen spirits
I’ve met angels
Touched creations beautiful and wondrous
I’ve been places where I question all I think I know
But I believe, I believe, I believe this could be heaven
We are born inside the gates with the power to create life
And to take it away
The world is our temple
The world is our church
Heaven’s here on earth<\/p>\n

If we have faith in human kind
And respect for what is earthly
And an unfaltering belief
In peace and love and understanding
This could be heaven here on earth<\/p>\n

<\/font>http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fy8Rnn95iDw<\/font><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/font> <\/p>\n

How can you create Heaven on Earth today?<\/font><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How many of us go in search of Heaven, having been taught that it is some distance ‘place’ we go to when we die and only if we adhere to a certain set of regulations and rules?  In no way do I mean disrespect to anyone’s spiritual beliefs who may be reading this entry. 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She has also contributed to several anthologies and personal growth books. Edie has interviewed such notables as Ram Dass, Wayne Dyer, Debbie Ford, don Miguel Ruiz, don Miguel Ruiz, Jr. Marianne Williamson, Grover Washington, Jr. Noah Levine, Shirley MacLaine, Dennis Weaver, Ben and Jerry and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. She calls herself an Opti-mystic who sees the world through the eyes of possibility. 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