The Celestial Church(Kanesha Andrews) Nighttime descends, and I slip into the embrace of sleep. As I drift into slumber, I am not merely dreaming—I am journeying.

My destination is the staircase made of stars. This time, I venture even further up those celestial steps. With every climb, the vastness of the cosmos unfolds before me, a mesmerizing tapestry of beauty and mystery. Each star, each constellation, captivates me, and I know I will never tire of this heavenly ascent, marveling at the divine creation.

As I continue my ascent, a melody begins to fill the air. The voice is enchanting, soulful, a siren's call that guides me upwards. The ethereal music wraps around me, leading me higher and higher until I stand before a building. Not just any building—a church. Its traditional design, with a tall steeple crowned by a glowing cross, is bathed in a warm, golden light that spills through the windows and doors.

A smile spreads across my face as I feel the radiant warmth of love emanating from the church.

“Come in, Child” a gentle voice beckons.

Tears of joy well up in my eyes as I step forward, my heart filled with happiness and peace, ready to embrace the divine presence within.

The interior of the church was simple, yet majestic. An open sanctuary, with high vaulted ceilings adorned with intricate stained-glass windows depicting celestial scenes of angels and stars. The light filtering through these windows cast a kaleidoscope of colors onto the polished wood flooring. Rows of pews, crafted from rich, dark wood, were lined with plush, velvet cushions, as many worshippers sat in serene contemplation. The walls, painted in soft hues of blue and gold, embellished delicate, hand-painted murals that told many stories from the Bible.

I took a seat in the middle row, watching as the choir of angels sang. They were diverse in appearance, reflecting the many cultures of Earth. All had smiles on their faces, and I could feel the love and happiness radiating from them as they sang with all their hearts. Soon, I felt a presence and looked up.

“Hello, darling,” he said, his eyes full of love and warmth, as was his smile.

“Hello,” I replied with a beaming smile as he sat down beside me.

He took my hand and held it tightly. It had been a while since we had seen each other… among the stars. I admitted to myself that I missed him as much as I missed walking up the staircase of stars. Soon, I found myself surrounded by those who often walked with me spiritually and up those same steps made of stars.

They all missed me, and I missed them.

The choir of angels ended their song, and suddenly, standing before everyone was Jesus. He smiled at us all, his presence filling the church with a profound sense of peace and love. We all sat in awe, our hearts uplifted by the divine moment. The air was thick with reverence and gratitude as we gathered to share in this sacred experience together.

“I am so glad that many of you made the journey here to worship,” Jesus began, his voice filled with warmth and love. “Not many are able to come here; you are a chosen few. Nevertheless, your calling to bring the Father's word, to spread peace and love, is a gift far greater than any precious metal or stone. Many of you have found that walking with our Father is not an easy journey. Some of you have achieved success, only to have it snatched away. Some of you have struggled in your earthly lives, striving to live up to the world's expectations below while staying true to your Faith.

“It is not an easy road that you walk. You will sometimes fall. At times, you will feel the journey is just too hard. It will be painful; it will be heartbreaking. Yet, as my Father says to all of you, and I say to all of you... Have Faith.”

I wasn't the only one moved to tears by his words. There were many, including my love, who shared in our collective sobbing. However, the tears were not of sadness but of joy, as the words Jesus spoke were words of reassurance and hope.

Jesus soon turned his head to the right and motioned for two angels to come and stand on either side of him. The angels held silver trays in their hands; one contained the bread of life and the cup of life. With a nod of his head, the angels made their way to each of us, distributing the bread and the cup. As we all took communion, Jesus said a blessing for all of us. Once communion was complete, the angels returned to Jesus's side, and with a gesture, he motioned for us all to stand.

“As you leave this place, know that the doors of this church are always open. Both on Earth and here in the Heavens where my Father and I reside... this church, my Father's church... the doors are always open, ready to receive you whenever you need comfort and to welcome you home if you ever stray. Blessings be upon all of you... Amen.”

“Amen,” we all responded in unison, our voices filled with gratitude and reverence. The atmosphere was thick with the sense of divine presence, and we left the church feeling uplifted, our spirits renewed and our hearts filled with faith.

As we all exited, walking down the steps and making our way to other parts of the cosmos, I turned and looked back at the building. In that moment, a profound realization settled over me—something I had always known deep down. The building was just that, a building. We are the church, and that church can take any form that God needs it to be—whether simple or extravagant. As long as God is the head of it, we are the church.

Suddenly, I felt a warm hand holding mine and smiled. I turned and saw my love beside me, his presence a comforting and familiar joy.

“Can we go walking among the stars? I have missed doing that with you,” he said, his eyes filled with affection.

“Yes, let’s go walking,” I replied, as I slipped my arm through his. Together, we embarked on our usual walk through the stars, each step a testament to our shared bond. The stars twinkled around us, and the cosmos seemed to hum with the beauty of our journey.

As we walked, we talked about everything and nothing, our voices mingling with the gentle whispers of the universe. The path of stars stretched infinitely before us, a reminder of the boundless love and wonder that awaited us both. Our hearts were light, and our spirits soared, knowing that, even when we returned to Earth, the memory of this celestial stroll would remain with us, a beacon of our connection and faith.

---