I think so, sadness too. Before you curse me for being a heretic or quote familiar scripture verses at me consider this – when we arrive at our next destination our eyes are going to be opened like they never have before. What we were blind to we will now see; what we were mistaken about will become clear; what we missed in understanding will become known. And as the darkness fades in this new light I think there will be some sense of grief for where we have erred.
I imagine the Reverend Fred Phelps today as he comes into a fuller understanding of the love and compassion of God. I think it will break him like it never did on this side of eternity. I picture Jesus taking him aside and gently ministering to him, teaching him, mentoring and discipling him. And I think Fred will cry, deeply weep. And he will grieve at the pain and heartache he created for so many others.
And then because it is Heaven, and because it is Jesus, Fred will be baptized in grace that he doesn’t deserve. It will finally penetrate his soul like the law he preached never could. And Jesus won’t leave him there in shame, because truly shame can’t exist in the embrace of Jesus.
For Jesus to wipe away the tears of our past, it means that there has to be an outlet for them, even in Heaven.
Today Fred is crying.
