How Far Is Heaven from Earth?
"For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is His kindness toward those who fear Him." — Psalm 103:11 (NABRE)
When was the last time I gazed at the heavens — and allowed myself to wonder? What longing still stirs in my heart today?
In a world where many are trapped in cycles of poverty, division, and silent wounds — where nature itself groans for healing — there arises a deep longing to return to simplicity, to listen again to the voice of the Creator in creation. This is a time to recover childlike wonder — and to gaze upward in hope.
I remember when I was a young boy, riding on the back of our carabao, guiding it through the fields of our farm under the wide, blue sky. As the carabao grazed quietly, I looked up — and wondered in my heart:
"How far is heaven from earth?"
That question has stayed with me — from childhood to this hour. It was not a question of distance — but a longing to reach the One above, to know the kindness of God in the vastness of life.
Even now, in my solitude, I remember that innocent wondering — and I realize: the heavens are closer than we think. The Spirit breathes in every blade of grass, every wind, every silent moment of the heart.
As I look back, I see that the longing in my heart as a child was the beginning of a lifelong journey — toward healing, unity, and deeper knowing of God. In my writings — on poverty, koinonia, moral ecumenism, and the healing of memories — I see this thread running through:
- that God’s kindness surpasses all brokenness;
- that Heaven and Earth are not far apart, when hearts are open;
- and that even in simple moments — on the back of a carabao — the Spirit is already at work.
The documents of Vatican II remind us: "The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age... these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ as well" (Gaudium et Spes, 1).
And St. Francis teaches us to reverence even the smallest creature — for all proclaim the goodness of the Creator. Thus, I begin this journey — Now Is the Hour — to remember, to heal, and to hope.
MY PRAYER: Come, Holy Spirit, as You moved my heart as a child looking to the heavens, move my heart now — and all who read this — toward deeper trust in Your kindness. Heal the wounds of our memories. Lift the burdens of our families and land. Teach us again to wonder — and to walk humbly with You. Come, O Breath of God — renew the face of the earth. Amen.
Michael Manzano Bantolin is a teacher and missionary who received his Master of Arts in Religious Studies from Saint Louis University. He is also the founder of the emerging Koinonia Foundation, which seeks to heal memory, restore dignity, and build bridges between churches, cultures, and communities.