Now THAT’s the testimony of a kid who loves soccer! No question in her mind that the game awaits, just what the field conditions will be like.

And that’s something to think about. Seems that “what awaits” has been a serving on my plate these last few weeks.  A larger portion than usual. So, let’s see…

Grass has a lot going for it. Natural. Lush. Plentiful. Bends. Gives. Nestles. But it does need mowing and tending. If you wear it down too far, it doesn’t come back. (evidence: goal mouth of every park field) It tears out in big clumps that may disrupt the roll of the ball. The divots may trip you and turn your ankle. And the puddles, oh, the slosh and mud after a sopping rain. So unpredictable, it’s playability.

So, perhaps the turf. Always lush. No mowing or tending. It springs back and cushions landings. Always a true roll and never a divot. And never puddles, so no need to delay or reschedule the game. Turf is always available. But wait. It gets hot. Very, very hot. So hot that you can see the heat rising from the surface and feel it searing through the bottom of your cleats. And true, we don’t cancel for rain or storms, but that means we have to play in driving rain and sleet and storms. And that perfect roll? It may be responsible for more ankle sprains and knee injuries in the grabbing of cleats in cuts and turns and pivots.

So, turf or grass in heaven? Turf is starting to sound more like that other place. Sure, earthly grass has its downside, but heavenly grass wouldn’t, right? Heavenly grass would be eternal. It wouldn’t need mowing. It wouldn’t dig up or wear out. It wouldn’t need rain or fertilizer. All the nourishment it needs would be provided. No charge. No cost. No sweat.

And let’s face it, nothing in heaven is artificial. Turf is synthetic. Heaven is for real. And it stays that way.

My problem is I keep trying to transplant my view of heaven, and all I have to go on is the experience I have on earth. We’re promised a new heaven and a new earth. No pain. No sorrow. No tears. No mourning. Everywhere, a new game where truly, truly I tell you, everyone wins.

If I can’t figure out how we can have winners without losers then I guess I haven’t got the whole picture yet. There’s so much left to ponder and so much left to learn. But I got this one:

There will be grass in heaven. And what a game we will play.