Firstly, let me say that I don’t believe in a parallel universe. But, isn’t it strange how people around the world seem to be having alternate experiences?
Contrasts
In August I went on a beautiful vacation in the Bahamas with my husband and my two boys. I saw many other families on our trip too, having a great time. By the time I returned and got caught up with the news, I learned of a couple of murders of young children and the plight of the mothers now left to mourn. I couldn’t help but think of the strangeness of it all. Families in one part of the world having a marvelous time, while in another part of the world mothers are mourning their murdered children.
The contrasts are striking. In August I saw Facebook posts of my former schoolmate celebrating her wedding anniversary in Paris. I watched an online video of Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union’s beautiful wedding, all the while other major occurrences were happening such as more than 100 children dead due to flooding and mudslides in Sierra Leone. There were also acid attacks in London and loss of lives due to fires in London.
What can oftentimes seem so bizarre is when it’s in the same country, yet people are having completely different experiences. In the same country where some people are in their thriving jobs, in their managerial roles, taking the spotlight and living comfortably, others are worrying daily about how they will feed their children. How is this possible?
It’s like walking through the raindrops; it’s raining all over, but while some people get drenched, others remain dry.
Heaven vs Hell
Do you ever wonder about when Jesus returns if he is returning for the whole world? And bear in mind this is based on Christianity. What happens for people who are not Christians and have completely different religious beliefs? Is Jesus returning in their world too? I am a Christian and I am not very familiar with the expectations of other religions, but I would think that they don’t have an expected Jesus returning. But even for those who do believe, there is a contrast there too. We are told of the Rapture where Jesus will return for believers. He will take up the believers with Him. All others will remain and experience years of tribulation to follow. So there again we see that not everyone will experience the same reality.
The biggest alternative of all there is that some people are expected to go to a heaven, while others are supposed to go to a fiery hell.
Sunshine vs Hurricanes
We are in the hurricane season now and some of the biggest contrasts can be seen here. While category 5 hurricanes are devastating some countries, there is beautiful sunshine in others. Loss of lives, homes destroyed, people fleeing their homes and moving into shelters, all the while it’s life and business as usual in sunny paradise elsewhere.
Not Even in Death
You would think that death is the one thing that we all share in common. But oh no, even there we have some anomalies. Within the Christian faith we are told that when Jesus next returns he will raise the dead believers and they plus the believers who are still alive will be taken up to heaven with him. So, this means not everyone will die that physical death before leaving this earth and this life.
And for those who do die, there is a contrast here too. Isn’t it interesting how some people live to be 100 years old, while some die very young, even as children?
It makes you wonder, doesn’t it? It makes me wonder.
We may not be living in a parallel universe, but we certainly are experiencing alternate realities.
Cheers,
Karlene
whatifsometimeslifehappen 