By Bernard E. Johnson
I’ve been thinking about Mitch Albom’s book, “The Five People You Meet in Heaven.” It is worth a read. It has caused me to think about people who have touched my life in ways that help define me at both a human and spiritual level. There have been people along the way who comprise a kind of Who’s Who of My Heart. Albom’s book has caused me to think about the spiritual importance of relationships. I’m thinking each one of us might benefit from reflecting on our lives in this manner.
If I were to share the names of five people (other than my wife and family) who have had a significant impact on my life I would have to include the following. There are surely more, but those who came to me on a summer evening in Minnesota are these:
Paul L. – Paul was in my class for the first six grades of school. He was a couple of years older than I. He was also “slow” or “slightly retarded” as we were inclined to say back in the ’50s. Paul would walk past our house on the way to school, alone and seemingly without friends. One day I asked if I could walk with him to school. There began a friendship that is hard to explain other than by God’s grace. Paul was a gentle person with hopes and dreams like every other kid in town. Something in his quiet soul drew me to him. When others would tease him, I defended him and called off his tormentors. One of my most indelible memories comes from Valentine’s Day, 1957. Paul knew he would not be promoted to seventh grade. In his Valentine card he misspelled a most precious greeting, “Thanks for bing my frend.” When I see Paul in heaven the first thing I want to say to him is, “Thanks for bing my frend.”
Richard L. – Richard was my fifth-grade Sunday school teacher. He was also the first person I ever knew who was converted to faith in Christ from a very self destructive life. It was as if he went from darkness into the light. We had all known and heard about his carousing and womanizing and sometimes violent behavior before his deliverance. When he came to faith and let his life change, he was a different man. What affected me the most was that he was willing to share his story with a dozen fifth-grade boys in a little Baptist Church in Massachusetts. I’ll never forget his story and his warnings about choices that can destroy a person’s life.
Mrs. B. – Mrs. B was my high school English teacher. Quite simply, she opened up the world of great literature to me and our class in a way that taught me to think deeply about a world far beyond the small New England town in which I grew up. She taught us to write critically and creatively. She would not accept laziness or sloppy thinking. I can still picture and hear her in that third floor classroom at a New England Prep School oh so long ago.
David T. – David was perhaps the best friend I ever had. He was older than I, but we connected at a deep level as friends. He was a very complex man of deep faith and profound struggles. There is no one in my life with whom I laughed more and cried more than David. David let me into his life more deeply than any other man I have known. He shared his faith as well as his doubts with me. He died all too young from complications after heart surgery. For all the right and some of the wrong reasons God spoke to my soul through my friendship with David. One day in heaven I believe we will laugh again until our sides ache.
Philip H. – Simply put, Philip was the first Christian minister with whom I could truly identify. He was mentor, friend, adviser and example. He was gifted like few others as a preacher. He was a great intellect yet a man of rather simple faith. Were it not for Philip, I do not think I would have entered the ministry for until I met him I had no examples I really wanted to emulate. He helped me secure my adult grip on faith in a loving God. And God only knew I was losing my grip when Philip first became my pastor and friend.
As I conclude this article, I can think of dozens more that belong in the “Who’s Who of My Heart.” How about you? Can you think of five people you may meet in heaven ... and why? It’s worth a wonder.

Dr. Bernard E. Johnson shares this space with the Revs. Timothy A. Johnson, Tim Power and Rod Anderson as well as spiritual writer Lauren Carlson-Vohs. “Spiritually Speaking” appears weekly.