Today I had a curious thought. If Heaven exists, what state would my physical appearance be when I arrive? Would it be the way I am at the time of death? But that would be awful were it to be death by car wreck, gang rape, or slaughtered by a wild animal.
Since sloth is a sin, perhaps St. Peter and His Holiness would prefer for newcomers to enter in their physical prime. That means a circa 18-year-old body for me. But I have some friends who are in awful shape, in fact the only time they were ever in shape was perhaps as a toddler. So would they enter as a 3-year-old but retain the mental maturity of an adult? With obesity rates on the climb the whole world over, I imagine this wouldn't be uncommon. Think of it - eerily acute personalities trapped in youthful bodies: like Dawson's Creek on crack.
But here's the kicker for me. What about the handicapped - physically or mentally? It's hard to imagine angels rolling around in wheelchairs or with gimp legs. At the same time, our worldly teachings - whether religious or not - often speak of accepting one's unchangeable circumstances. If one were to lose his handicappedness (word check?) then doesn't that make all of these 'embrace one's self' seem like a sham?
Seems to me God is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. How could Paradise exist with defects but then if it doesn't, he should inform everyone on Earth that looking for acceptance is merely a temporary rationalisation that things aren't so bad.
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