I Found Heaven On A Friday
by Tanner Olson
writtentospeak.com

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I found heaven on a Friday.

You would have thought I would have discovered it on the Lord’s day, but I didn’t.

To be honest, calling Sunday “The Lord’s Day” has always troubled me.

Who’s day is Thursday?

Who gets Monday?

What about Saturday?

In my mind (and there is a lot happening in my mind) every day is The Lord’s Day.

Maybe we needed to give Sunday a little extra nod.

Anyways.

After a few green lights and a handful of yellows and reds I turned left and pulled into an empty parking space.

I walked a few hundred feet before arriving at the coffee shop.

They were serving freshly brewed Ethiopian coffee.

I’m a sucker for Ethiopian coffee.

I’m not sure why all the other countries are trying to make coffee.

Ethiopia did it right.

I should mention that I am wearing pants that fit right.

It’s taken me 33 years to find pants that fit right.

Everything's better when you’re wearing pants that fit right.

Not too tight.

Not too loose.

I took my coffee outside and found a table in the shadow of a maple tree.

Its leaves are turning from green to yellow, slowly beginning to let go of Summer.

For a moment I have forgotten about my to-do list.

I’ve forgotten about the numbers in my bank account.

I’ve forgotten about death and sickness and all the things I don’t want to tell you about my life.

Maybe I am in heaven.

I know.

This isn’t actual heaven, but I have to tell you that it feels close.

It feels like Jesus is in the other room.

I’m sure He’s sipping on Ethiopian coffee, too.

And if it’s the Jesus I know, he also is eating a blueberry muffin.

I think God knew that I needed this moment.

This quiet.

This breeze.

This 75 degree weather.

This silence.

This cup of coffee.

It’s the cheapest therapy I’ve ever had, except for that one time the sunrise woke me up on the beach.

The sun gently rubbed my back and I swore I heard her whisper, “I have something for you to see.”

I still see.

My eyes have remained open. 

I'm always looking for glimpses of heaven.

I’m hoping to one day find heaven on a Monday.

But for now I’ll enjoy Friday.

It’s just my computer, a cup of coffee, and blue skies.

What a gift.

There is a cool breeze that is coming from my right.

I’m not sure if it’s North or South or East or West.

I don’t carry a compass.

You don’t carry a compass in heaven.

No one carries a compass if they know where they are.

And I am home.

I’m in heaven.

(side note: Just as I typed that last line a man decided to come sit right by me. There are plenty of other available seats, but of course he chose this one. He’s talking loudly on the phone. He’s discussing minimum wage and trying to solve a problem. He’s not solving the problem quietly. It’s almost as if he doesn’t know I am in heaven.)

With hope,

Tanner Olson
@writtentospeak

About the Author

Tanner Olson is an author, poet, speaker, and podcaster living in Nashville, Tennessee.

He is the author of I’m All Over the Place, As You Go, Walk A Little Slower, and Continue: Poems and Prayers of Hope.

You can find Tanner Olson’s books on Amazon.

His podcast is The Walk A Little Slower Podcast with Tanner Olson and can be found wherever you listen to podcasts.

Tanner Olson travels around the country sharing poetry, telling stories, and delivering messages of hope.

You can follow Tanner Olson on Instagram (@writtentospeak) and Facebook where you’ll daily find encouraging words of faith and hope.

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