Heaven is a Place On (Middle) Earth
They can keep their heaven. When I die, I’d sooner go to Middle Earth. ~George R.R. Martin
I’m not sure why, but I’ve been thinking a good bit recently about the afterlife. This shouldn’t be the case: I am still relatively young, in good health, and don’t make a habit of holding poisonous snakes or racing motorcycles on the weekends. With any luck I’ll live decades more to come. So, the fixation on the hereafter…what’s behind it?
I’ve always been one of “those” kids, forever contemplating the greater mysteries in life. When the other girls were playing house and trading Lisa Frank stickers, I came across as the spiritual child of Lydia from Beetlejuice and Richard Dreyfuss’ son in What About Bob? I knew I was going to die. The only question was, when would it happen? And what exactly would it be like? Since nobody currently exists who can tell me, it was largely speculation on my part.
Like most carbon-based sentient life forms, I do want to believe in an afterlife. Maybe not the conventional idea of Heaven as a place with lots of fluffy clouds and immortal beings carrying around autoharps, but a kind of otherworldly place where there were no bills, no illnesses, and no losing football teams. If Heaven does exist, I would want it to be peaceful, serene, and jaw-droppingly beautiful. Some of these fictional locations might fit the bill just fine:
Asgard (Thor, 2011)
The realm of the mythical Norse deities, full of traveling portals, Ice Giants, flying horses, and what appears to be a Rainbow Road made of glowing Lucite. Awesome, especially if Loki is also there.
Rivendell (The Lord of the Rings trilogy, 2001-2003)
There’s quite a few places in Middle Earth I wouldn’t mind spending eternity. None can surpass the city of the Elves in sheer beauty and gorgeous choral music.
Pandora (Avatar, 2009)
With two qualifications: that no wacked-out humans were present, and that I could spent all eternity running around a rainforest as a nine-foot-tall electric blue cat person.
The Millennium Falcon (Star Wars Trilogy, 1977-1983)
I know it’s not a place, but the idea of a ship (with a properly working hyperdrive) to shoot around the universe randomly in is too tempting, especially if Han Solo is the pilot.
The Beast’s Castle (Beauty and the Beast, 1991)
Heaven is a kind of library, it’s said, and this is hands-down the best library ever depicted on film. The rest of the place is nothing to shake a paw at either.
The Land of Fantasia (The Never-Ending Story, 1984)
Hopefully, you know, before it got all eaten up and spit out by the forces of darkness. I’d also want my very own Luck Dragon for impromptu flights.
The A-Team Van (The A-Team, 1983-1987)
Whoever thinks heaven isn’t riding around vigilante-style with the four coolest guys ever, well, I pity that fool.
If you could spend the afterlife in a fictional place, or even a real one, where would you want it to be?
I cannot wait for the Hobbit movies!
Me neither. Peter Jackson is a genius.
Maybe the Millennium Falcon will take you to your final destination. How cool would that be?
That would be awesome. As long as the hyperdrive worked.
The hyperdrive NEVER works. Not the first time, anyway.
As usual you practically read my mind. I also would choose the Beast’s castle, Middle Earth or the A Team van. Also Hogwarts, as long as I didn’t have to study!
Ooh, I forgot about Hogwarts. Or you could do Hogsmeade: one long wizarding vacation!
I am pretty indecisive, I have given this type of question some thought but never really came to a conclusion that I have been happy with.
In the end, it must be what each individual considers heaven, I think…
I love the elfen home in the trees too! I just hope I don’t end up in the inbetween space making bumps in the night…. 🙂
I wondered who that was, and what caused that weird sound. 😉
Hahaha!
I guess I do like the idea of the heaven that I believe in, though I don’t ever think of it in those terms (in terms of being a place where I expect/hope to be someday). I believe in a heaven where we no longer have these same bodies, ailments, and concerns. A heaven where everyone just “gets it” and we don’t have to struggle with all of these big questions and doubts. A heaven where we know the answer and are at peace with it. I suppose that is my ideal heaven.
Well, now I need to watch Never Ending Story again. I really believe “heaven” to be exactly how you described it. We go home again, for a bit until we’re ready to put some clothes back on and head back out. I think that’s why some people do “get it” because they’ve been around the block, if you know what I mean.
You guys both have it right…I think heaven is very personal in the end, (I also believe in a certain degree of reincarnation.)
Why don’t you put some hunger games in there? Come check out my blog.
I will! Thanks for stopping by. (We did a Virtual Hunger Games a few months ago.)