December 21,2012
THE LIBRARY OF HEAVEN
It's not like what you think. The library. Yes, it's enormous!
Goes on for miles and miles, meticulously spotless, marble,
full of natural light and picturesque views from unadorned
windows: Floating clouds, perfect blue sky, more of the
marble library as far as the eye can see... that sort of thing.The
occasional odd potted plant, but otherwise no bric-a-brac,
no cases (after all not one book need ever worry of dust mites,
mould, cigarette smoke, edge or surface wear,smears or marks).
Every book is read with lightning speed & returned in perfect
condition. It is a good thing there are so many authors in heaven
who keep on writing -- the demand for new reads is tremendous!
If, no, "when" you finish your book (you have eternity to shirk any
writer's block you are experiencing),only three copies are
made: One is sent to you (it shows up in a plain manila envelope
unaddressed, after all - they KNOW where you are), one shows up
at the Library of Heaven, and the third? Well, The Heavenly
Publisher, Himself keeps that copy & God only knows where
that volume is.
The library does have librarians, though none of them ever
shush you to be quiet. It's so enormous that it is actually an
unexpected treat to run into another individual there, which
I have done a couple times before. Maybe five to thirty people
happily discussing a new read next to a librarian's kiosk. I have
stood there, quietly listening, hoping to get some feedback
on a book I have recently written. No one sees you (if you do
not wish to be seen) and I am painfully shy of praise. Since I
am also desirous to please my reading audience this invisibility
business is "heavenly." I listen to what others hope will come
"next." I delight in their enthusiasm while picking up some
interesting theories to possibly explore. I will absently look
over a couple previous volumes of my work on "my shelf."
While I do, other volumes of mine wink in and out on the shelves
at the speed of light. They are being read.
The size and scope of the library is such that I am at a loss
to put an acreage on it, after all -- it "grows." The way it "grows"
is exactly like gravity: You know it exists, but you cannot see it
do its function, which is to constantly be expanding. I find this
mildly annoying, and before you say it, "Yes, you can be annoyed -
even in Heaven." Being annoyed is not a sin, it is an honest
emotion, in my case Heaven has a way of overwhelming me on a
regular basis.
I don't know any of the library's stats, like how many volumes
The Library of Heaven contains or which section of books is the
largest. I have yet to see even the outward enormity of it all, for
you see when you desire a particular author, book, or genre - you
are immediately spirited to that particular destination. If you
desire a particular book and know the title you need not enter
the library at all, you need only "think" of the book you wish to
read and regardless of where you are it will "appear" in your
hands, thereby freeing you of having to visit the library at all.
This next question (after what does the Library of Heaven
look like) is the most often asked: Does the library contain
"naughty" books? Books of a graphically violent or sexual
nature? To tell you the truth, I have no idea. I have read horror,
suspense, and fiction containing some graphic passages, but
sex or violence or any gratuitous sin simply for sin's sake I
have never run across in the library and it has only just occurred to
me why: I am in heaven and being a resident it has occurred to me
that my tastes do not run that way, so... naturally, I have no
idea. Perhaps if there was a Library of Hell it would be saturated
with sinful selections, unfortunately paper does burn and
Hell is repleat with brimstone and hellfire. " No Jack Books for
the wicked!"
A particularly weird aspect of the whole heavenly publish-
-ing thing is that I have never met any of the staff who work with me
on my books: Not an editor, not a proof reader, not even an
illustrator (when applicable). Weird, huh? I am seeing the illustrations
the same time as my readers, sometimes much later. The Heavenly
Publisher knows just which artist to match to my work and having a
perfect knowledge of my psyche I am never unhappy or disappointed.
I find the "surprise" of seeing these images after publishing
strangely refreshing and thrilling even. I think I might arrange a
meet-and-greet between myself and those involved with my literary
works. Book a large cloud. Have Manna catered.
[Note to self: Pray about who I need to contact regarding this].
I am certain you, the reader, are dreaming up questions even now
that I have failed to cover here, I have tried my best to cover as much
information as possible during this brief R.E.M you are experiencing.
Just wake up refreshed knowing that if you are experiencing this
dream " a lifetime of happiness lies ahead of you." An 'eternal' lifetime.
A Fellow Book Worm & Heavenly Author,
Rita M. Cerniglia
PS: "Don't worry about the world coming to an end today, it's already
tomorrow in Australia."
