A woman wrote to Off the Left Eye to ask about what will happen in a billion years. Her concern was based on the idea that the spiritual world depends on this physical world to ground it, and science tells us that sometime in the future this solar system will dissolve. What will happen to heaven?

I was surprised, frankly. There are enough questions floating around about the sustainability of this planet in the very near future to keep many of us on our toes. They certainly distract me from any catastrophes that will not show up until a hundred million years have passed. Still the team of moderators like to offer reassurance, and help people find answers. I told her a story.

Thirty years ago one of my kids was worried about where they would live when they grew up. They did not like the idea of moving away, since living at home was such a great idea, but what if they wanted to get married? Would they both live with us? 

I smiled. There were many ways to answer it. Yes, they would always be welcome to live with dad and me. Or I could promise that they would actually want to have their own place, maybe even in a different city. Or I could suggest that it might be me that gets old and feeble and asks to live in their basement. 

But perhaps those were too many details, and would only give fuel to the fears. 

"We will both have places we like to live. And if it is not the same house we can visit each other."

Having been the parent for much of my life, the one who supposedly has answers, has been part of my spiritual growth. But seeing life through the eyes of my children has been the real gift. 

God sometimes spells out the details of my future. But more often He is vague. 

"I will take care of you," is comforting even in its ambiguity.