If Heaven Has an Outpost on Earth

May 21, 2026

Apple trees in full bloom

It’s the most glorious time of year. The intoxicating scent of sweet roses fills my senses as I walk through the forest trails, not from roses, but from millions of blossoms on the Victorian-era apple trees on my property. As I pause to capture photos under the massive old trees, their petals fall like confetti, kissing my face and hair. I close my eyes and deeply inhale. For the first time in a while, the worries that filled my mind and weighed heavily on my body fall away too.

The air around me is buzzing from countless bumble bees, honey bees, and tiny ant-sized bees flitting from blossom to blossom. They seem as enthralled as I am with this experience. If heaven has an outpost on earth, surely this is it. I take another deep breath, along with another photo, hoping to hold onto the beauty of this moment forever.

Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD is an award-winning, best-selling, and 25-time published author, whose books include: The Cancer Files, 60 Seconds to Slim, Pain Erasers, and The Ultimate pH Solution. She is the recipient of a Gold Foreword Indies and a Silver Nautilus award. Her work has been featured in Woman’s World, WebMD, Reviews.com, Yahoo!, Yoga Magazine, and Mother Earth News. Her book, Pain Erasers, was selected by Woman’s World as the “Best New Book.” She is the publisher of the popular free newsletter at DrMichelleCook.com.