Heaven; through the narrow gate

Keeping religion aside for the sake of discussion, whether we are of a religious bent of mind or not: we would agree all in principle heaven a place to be aspired for (perhaps, expecting Mark Twain). Heaven, in our thoughts and ideas is a place of peace and happiness that would last for all times to come, it is luxury and comfort personified and sanctified, it is luxuriant with luscious vegetation and breath taking vistas, it is free of dirt and grime and thunder and storms, it is a place of serenity a sanctuary of perpetual rest.

Call it Elysium, Arcadia, Heaven, Jannat, Haven or what you may there is a perpetual desire in our souls to get there once we leave this abode whether we articulate this aspiration or not is an entirely another matter. Heaven has been likened to your state of mind and emotional state also - 'you can make your own hell or heaven' thereby meaning if we are miserable and in anguish be it physical or mental, life in itself becomes either pleasurable or miserable. But, whatever the lore on heaven, one thing is for certain: it is mighty difficult to get in, and can done only through the narrow gate.

Sometimes, very rarely there are experiences in life which come close to being heavenly in nature, they are pure bliss, sheer happiness, they change the way we look at ourselves and the world around us and we get a glimpse of what the actual place would be like if we are lucky enough to go there. But, as in after death, so in life, as above, so below - attaining heaven in life is as difficult, even if you are fortunate enough to find the gate leading to it, the path is beset with troubles and the gate itself so narrow, that not even your hand can pass through let alone your whole body. And, it is then you realize that magic and miracles last but just for a moment, they don't last forever or even longer than a minute - just when we think ourselves close enough or somehow able enough to get through the, the gate closes in on us and what seemed like 'reality' changes, and whom you thought would help you pass through you see receding far into the background getting harder to pinpoint and call to for help with every passing second till the time the gate is finally closed in on you, and you are left - on this side - alone as before.