While driving home from Sunday brunch, Louisa, Birgitta, Nelson, and I had a conversation about whether or not time exists in heaven, in days, months, or years. Scripture includes several references to time, which then led us to talk of birthdays. Nate’s birth date was last Saturday, and we wondered aloud if annual celebrations have continued in his new community.

“I don’t think so,” I said. “That’s an earthly thing.” (Everybody knows people don’t get old in heaven.)

But Louisa said, “I think the opposite, that birthdays do continue. But maybe instead of celebrating the day you were born, they celebrate the day you began, which is the day you were conceived.”

While we were thinking about that, Birgitta came up with another scenario. “Maybe it’s the day you arrive in heaven. Maybe that’s the date they celebrate.”

Then Nelson added, “You mean a person’s death date.”

“Yes.”

Death date = birth date? Quite possible.

Later in the afternoon we were still pondering our birthday party question. Nephew Andrew said, “Maybe they’re celebrating birthdays linked to the day someone becomes a Christian.” That made sense as we remembered Scripture’s reference to being born again.

Andrew’s wife Kim offered yet another idea. “A birthday party is all about one person, and that much focused attention seems a little selfish for heaven.”

But then Louisa said, “Maybe the only important birthday will be Jesus’. And what date would that be? Probably the day he rose from the dead, which is when spiritual birth dates became available to the rest of us.”

Who knew birthdays could get so complicated?

We didn’t come to any conclusions, but thinking about heaven is something most of us like to do. Sometimes I feel like I have one foot in this world and one in the next, which isn’t a bad way to live. I don’t want to be so heavenly minded I’m no earthly good, but it’s a nice idea to live each day with an awareness that the life around us isn’t all there is. Each of us has a “some day” when this familiar world will recede and eternity will engulf us.

So how do we prepare for that?

We remind ourselves, when trouble comes, that heaven’s trouble-free existence is real and will one day be ours. And when everything is going fine, we marvel that something even better is coming. Then, between the difficult periods and the good times, we speak gratitude to God for planning a spectacular future for us. And while we wait, we practice patience, knowing he’ll transition us when our new home is ready.

I’m not sure about all this birthday business, but I do know one thing: if life in heaven includes any birthday parties, it’s going to sound pretty amazing when legions of angels join in on the “Happy Birthday” song.

“In his great mercy he has given us new birth… into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.” (1 Peter 1:3-4)