I was just sitting on the couch, thinking of my morning swim. Driving 20 miles in the early morning at 5:45 in the old ford with well over 20000 miles on it. Heated garage and a pleasant drive to the school where there is a nice 25 meter pool.

The on line pool registration for this morning had a small amount of swimmers signed up and it was easy to think of getting in before the second lap time and finishing early before the buses and children arrive.

The pool was full with 8 swimmers which was 5 more than were registered on line. I waited to get in by the edge of my favorite lane. The older woman in that lane said she would gladly share. I did so and she soon got out and I had the lane all to myself. I got in a good half an hour swim and then more swimmers started crowding in at the end of the pool. There were only three signed up on line for the second session and there were over six in already. The pool has six lap lanes with floating lane markers.

A man standing at the end my lane was a pool friend I had not seen in some time and I stopped there and told him I would get out as I had done enough laps and would forgo my usual number. I felt good about that and we talked for a minute about my upcoming cataract surgery. He is retired doctor and reassured me of the great results and ease it was. A pleasant way to get out early.

I got into the locker room and saw three times the usual piles of towels and clothing. After showering and dressing I got out earlier than usual. The school was empty and I drove out of the quiet parking lot and motored home. A little black ice on the way back, but traffic was light and it was a casual drive home.

The parlor stove was still warm and I made a cup of coffee and put away my swim bag.

I sat on the couch with Julie and our Brittany spaniel and one of the cats curled up in my lap. I relaxed and Julie went off after a nice chat to ride her stationary bike.

I suddenly had a vision of a man offering me the contents of a small basket. Three kernels of popcorn told him, “well, I’ll take one and you can give the two to Julie”. He turned around quickly and now the basket had a Butterfingers candy bar and a Hershey dark chocolate one in it. These are our favorites. And the vision ended.

I began looking at our home from the couch and saw treasures. The big Hummels on top of the cabinet grand. The rubber tree extending up to the second floor library and the half circle window there where I can see Orion in the clear winter morning.

Two Stained glass windows at each end of four in a row with bluebirds flying towards one another below the second floor library. My 1921 Gibson A model mandolin in its case and the photos on the wall of the staircase of our children. The menorah and scroll work of our youngest son’s wood shop. A string of Himalayan bells next to my desk. On and on I gazed at treasures and I was overcome with those things being shown to me.

The sun was shining and the morning snow was dripping from the roof. Now the pooch was lying in the sunshine that is making bars of warmth on the living room floor. Treasure in the vault of a rich man’s castle.

Set in a valley of 30 acres of trees, fields and gardens visible from all the windows. A castle indeed. I think I earned all of this but it just came and we are blessed beyond my words.

Julie and I spoke of what heaven is like just before the vision. C.S. Lewis’ The great divorce came to mind and that fell short. Jesus’ words of paradise and his eternal beauty and romance for us was next in our chat. The garden where lions purr when you pet them. The banquet table with the best wine of Cana to toast the wedding feast to come.

‘Visions of that book that no one on earth has ever read. Our lives here are just the cover and table of contents of that book in which every chapter is better that the one before.’ A.

A . G.K. Chesterton

It’s pretty good. Jack