A Life-Changing Discovery
There are moments in life when we encounter something so profound it transforms the way we see everything. For me, one of those moments came during a season of deep grief. I was walking through the slow process of healing my heart, still asking God so many questions, and feeling the weight of loss. I wasn’t searching for clarity or direction outside the scriptures, when I stumbled across - or rather was divinely introduced to - My Dream of Heaven or (Intra Muros) by Rebecca Ruter Springer.
This book, first published in 1898, captivated me immediately. I couldn’t put it down, devouring its pages late into the night, drinking in every word like water to a parched soul. Nearly every encounter Springer described brought me to tears of joy, and I was astonished by how deeply I connected with her experiences. It awakened me to joy!
Her vivid descriptions of loved ones reunited in Heaven filled my imagination with exhilarating, sweeping visions of the encounters that I, too, will one day have in that perfect world. It felt as though pieces of my own life were clicking into place, suddenly making sense. Not only did I feel able to move forward, but I found a fresh fervour for life on Earth, energized by the assurance of the blessed world to come. By the time I finished the book, I had experienced something I hadn’t felt in a long time: a renewed sense of purpose and a profound understanding of the connection between Heaven and Earth.
What Is My Dream of Heaven?
Also known as Intra Muros (Between the Walls), My Dream of Heaven recounts Springer’s extraordinary experience while she was gravely ill. Suspended between life and death for three hours, she describes her vivid experiences and encounters in Heaven as filled with activity that spanned what seemed three earth-years.
Her descriptions of Heaven are not only breathtaking but also deeply grounded in scripture. She paints a picture of Heaven as a place of joy, love, and divine presence—where there are no more partings, only reunions. Her words were a confirmation of so many biblical promises about the life to come.
Why This Book Resonates So Deeply
Reading this book wasn’t just inspiring—it was transformative. It expanded my understanding of a perfect world immensely larger than Earth and filled me with awe, wonder, and purpose. Springer’s vision of Heaven felt both astonishingly vast and intimately familiar. It confirmed what scripture hints at: Heaven and Earth are not as distant as they may seem.
... How little we know! If only we could realize while we are yet mortals, that day by day we are building for eternity, how different our lives in many ways would be! Every gentle word, every generous thought, every unselfish deed, will become a pillar of eternal beauty in the life to come. We cannot be selfish and unloving in one life and generous and loving in the next. The two lives are too closely blended - one but a continuation of the other... [Chapter II, p 21]
This realization gave me a new lens through which to see life on Earth—not as disconnected from Heaven, but as beautifully intertwined with it. This shift wasn’t merely intellectual; it touched my heart, spirit, and even my art. It confirmed my motto: Everything I do matters for eternity!
How My Dream of Heaven Inspires My Art
As an artist, my work reflects my spiritual journey. Each painting I create is born out of meditations on scripture, prayer, and the mysteries of life and eternity. After reading My Dream of Heaven, new dimensions emerged in my work.
Themes of connection, renewal, and the nearness of Heaven began to infuse my paintings. When I work with light and color, I often think of Springer’s descriptions of heavenly landscapes—vibrant, alive, and saturated with the presence of God. Beyond the visuals, her reflections on eternity have inspired countless ideas for spiritual themes that I now feel compelled to express.
Since reading this book, my creative purpose has grown clearer. I feel an urgency to communicate these messages through my art, and I’m thrilled to soon unveil these works in my online gallery. Even the act of creating feels more significant now, as though each brushstroke is bridging the eternal and the temporal, Heaven and Earth.
My Dream of Heaven has become a linchpin for me, alongside the Bible. This book about Heaven that shapes my art is a guiding force in my creative process, illuminating my artistic journey and life. It reminds me that art is not merely about beauty; it’s about connection and reflecting something eternal.
An Invitation to Discover for Yourself
If you’re in need of encouragement, or if you’ve ever wondered what the life to come might hold, I wholeheartedly recommend My Dream of Heaven/Intra Muros. This book has not only shaped my faith but also revolutionized my art, filling me with a renewed sense of purpose and hope.
I’d love to hear your thoughts. Have you read it? Are there books that have similarly shaped your perspective or creative work? Let’s continue the conversation.
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
(1 Corinthians 2:9-10, The Bible, KJV)
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