The Difference Between Heaven and Hell
I heard this story at a scout campfire years ago and haven’t forgotten it.
A man died and went to Heaven. At the gate St. Peter met him and said: “You’re not coming in yet. I want to have you see Hell so you’ll really appreciate Heaven.”
They then went to Hell and stood before huge doors. As the doors opened, the man saw banquet tables as far as his eyes could see. The tables were piled high with beautiful abundant food. But everyone in Hell was miserable and starving.
Why? Because each person in Hell had splints strapped to each arm, so they could not bend their arms to get the food from the table to their mouths.
That’s Hell. Being so close but unable to get at it.
Then they went to Heaven. As the doors to Heaven opened up, he saw the same scene. Huge tables filled with abundance. And everyone there also had splints clamped to each arm. But everyone in Heaven was happy and well fed.
Why?
(Think a moment before you scroll down for the answer)
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They were feeding each other.
Reflection:
We humans are profoundly interdependent. We swim in the same soup of life. But when we can’t reach out to each other, when we can’t be reached out to, we might as well be in Hell.
When we are face to face, we not only breathe each other’s air, but we are at the gate of Heaven or Hell.
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