The Difference Between Heaven and Hell

A dear friend sent me this short story and I thought I would share it with you here.

I don't know the name of the author.

 

The Difference Between Heaven and Hell

 

A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said,

"I would like to know what heaven and hell are like."

 

The Lord 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.

 

However, 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 just seen hell."

 

"Now," the Lord said, "Let's go and see what it's like in heaven."

 

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."