A man visited the Sage to try to convert the Sage to his religion. The Sage did not comply. So, the man asked, "Don't you desire to go to heaven?" The Sage said, "Please allow me to share a story with you. Then, you decide whether I desire to go to heaven." The man said, "Okay. Speak." The Sage shaped the story to fit the visitor's religious tradition, saying ...
Once, a man appeared at the gates of heaven. Christ greeted him. "Christ," said the man, "I'm so happy to get here to enjoy heaven." Christ said, "Friend, you're not ready for my heaven." Perplexed, the man spoke, "Certainly, I am, for I've worked very hard to ensure I get to heaven." Replied Christ, "That's exactly why you're not ready to enjoy my heaven."
Another man, afterward, appeared at the gates of heaven. Christ greeted him. "Christ," said the man, "I'm so enthused to get to heaven, for I worked hard to ensure I wouldn't get sent to hell." Christ said, "Friend, you're not ready for my heaven." Confused and offended, the man said, "Christ, you must be wrong. Don't you recall I did many good things to ensure I wouldn't go to hell?" Christ replied, "Yes, you did many things to ensure you wouldn't go to hell, and that is exactly why you're not ready for my heaven."
Later, another man appeared at the gates of heaven. Christ greeted him. "Christ," he said, "I don't know why I'm here, for I did nothing to get to heaven or avoid hell." Christ said, "Sir, that's why you 're prepared to enjoy my heaven."
After the Sage finished the story, he remained in silence, looking directly into his visitor's eyes. The man did not say anything either. He turned and left, visibly confused and quite offended, as well.
*Brian K. Wilcox. "Meetings with an Anonymous Sage."
Sitting quietly, reflecting on the above story, inquire into how it speaks to you. You might wish to ask, "What do I hear?" ... Indeed, "What do you hear?"
*Brian's book, An Ache for Union: Poems on Oneness with God through Love, can be ordered through major online booksellers or the publisher AuthorHouse.
