A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, ‘Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.’
The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man’s mouth water.
The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful. But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.
The Lord said, ‘You have seen Hell.’ They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one.
There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man’s mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.
The holy man said, ‘I don’t understand.’
‘It is simple,’ said the Lord. ‘It requires but one skill. You see they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves.’
Image Credit: Eatocracy
Oh, I do hope there's a room that isn't beef! Send me to the room withthe chicken and pasta and red wine, please! And cake! hahaha!
Have a wonderful day, Sandee! big hugs xoxo
Perhaps I can be in the same room with you. I'll take the chicken and pasta too. 🙂
Great moral to the story. It's exactly what I was thinking when you described Hell – why aren't they feeding each other.
Yep, it's a no brainer isn't it? Yes it is. 🙂
so when you die, whether you go to heaven or hell, the menu is the same? LOL
Perhaps, but I loved this analogy. 🙂
A great illustration of the difference and reminder that we all need to work together.
We do indeed. 🙂
aw that's a good point made right there!
Sure is Rose. 🙂
I loved the moral of the story. If only mankind could treat one another with more respect. We would all enjoy the stew.
Have a wonderful Saturday Sandee & say hi to Zane & Little Bit. See ya.
Cruisin Paul
You are spot on Paul, spot on. 🙂
And that, my dear, is a remarkable life lesson.
Happy boating!
Big hugs, honey…
Yes it is honey, yes it is. 🙂
Brilliant moral at the end and so frigging true too
Have a sailtastic day Sandee :-h
I'm serious now and then, mostly then, but still. 🙂
You, yourself, make your life heaven or hell.
Exactly. Well said Kismet. 🙂
this was great! what a lesson to learn! Happy Saturday!
Yet so many never learn this lesson. 🙂
SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT TO ME, BUT A LITTLE COLLECTIVIST
A tad collectivist, but still. 🙂
Ooh, I like this! Gonna steal it sometime.
This was my take on Heaven and Hell
http://joeh-crankyoldman.blogspot.com/2012/12/heaven-or-hell-another-cranky-re-run.html
I think I like yours better.
Well, I liked your just fine too. I'm average so I may have to do the same as you. 🙂
Ah! I thought it would be a joke but this one was really deep!
Every once in a while I find something that makes me take notice. This was it. 🙂
you got me thinking. I am glad that it is not a true story, but there is a lesson to be learned here!
Yes, it's the lesson we must heed. 🙂
I went to a 9 day seminar (you had to get a passport, a will, and an insurance policy, and bring a tent and a sleeping bag before they would accept your enrollment) and it culminated in this exercise. We all returned from a 24 hour fast, spent camping alone in the woods to a beautiful table of cut up fruit (boy did it look wonderful!) and we had to do exactly this: Feed our "sisters". They taught us that so many women grow up "hating" other women: Jealous of them, judging them …. and hating them really means hating ourselves because we ARE women. It was a powerful seminar. It was not a religious seminar, but the words "Feed my sheep" always come to mind. We all benefit when we look after each other. Like you look after me, my friend! Thanks for always pointing the spoon my direction, Sandee. … just sayin'. You make a difference in my life. Have a great day!
What a wonderful seminar. I don't hate other women and I'm happy about that. I love to see people succeed. Makes me smile. I've watched you succeed. That made me smile even more. Love you Wendy. 🙂
It reminds me of the story of the man who died and was in a line. The Lord was at the front of the line and asked each person a question when s/he got to Him. You couldn't hear the question until you got there, and the question he was asked when he finally got to the front was, "Did you learn how to love?"
The ones feeding each other learned how to love.
Yes indeed. I like that question very much. Many never learn to love and it starts with loving yourself. 🙂
And so when sharing happens, we give a piece of heaven to one another. Beautiful.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Exactly Lux, exactly. 🙂
Amen!
Yes indeed Caren. Scritches to Cody. 🙂
Wise words. Hope I'm in the good room!
Me too Jean(ie), me too. 🙂
I hope there's a chocolate ice cream room too
That would be the dessert room. I'm sure there will be one too because after all you're in heaven. 🙂
Oh wow..great story. Greed is ugly. I pray there will be more kind of people in the 2nd room here on earth.
I pray for the same Rocks. 🙂
I understand that this is just a story with a moral, but, I expected a little more from heaven than some stew. I'm just saying…
I'm sure heaven will be far more than we mere mortals can ever imagine. 🙂
Something that too few people would figure out.
This is sadly so true Binky. 🙂