Winning Words 5/27/11

“My idea of heaven is a great big baked potato and someone to share it with.” (Oprah Winfrey) I didn’t watch Oprah’s last daytime show, but millions did and heard her sign off with, “To God be the glory.” Today’s quote has me thinking about heaven and wondering if there’ll be baked potatoes there. I know that there’ll be friends. What “heaven” ideas and “friends” thoughts are on your mind? ;-) Jack

FROM JC IN HONG KONG: The Anglican (nameless) pastor here once said he was confident that there would still be fishing going on in heaven. I replied that the fish would probably disagree with him.////FROM JACK: Were the disciples of Jesus required to "leave their nets" because Jesus opposed fishing?

FROM SH IN MICHIGAN: The potato part being wished for in heaven doesn't resonate with me but the sharing part sure does. I hope heaven will be just chock full of people sharing, not like down here on earth where someone is likely to be trying to get the biggest part. But man when there is healthy sharing, mutuality in relationships, ain't it just contentment, peaceful and heavenly?!!!!!!!////FROM JACK: The Difference Between Heaven And Hell (Adapted by Elisa Pearmain from a Japanese and Chinese folk tale) To tell the story dramatically, tape a spoon to a ruler so that the entire length is longer than your own arm to demonstrate how people ate in hell. When you get to the next paragraph about heaven, tape another spoon to another ruler. Give spoons to two participants. Invite them to pretend to feed each other to illustrate the way the people ate in heaven. Long ago there lived an old woman who had a wish. She wished more than anything to see for herself the difference between heaven and hell. The monks in the temple agreed to grant her request. They put a blindfold around her eyes, and said, "First you shall see hell." When the blindfold was removed, the old woman was standing at the entrance to a great dining hall. The hall was full of round tables, each piled high with the most delicious foods — meats, vegetables, fruits, breads, and desserts of all kinds! The smells that reached her nose were wonderful. The old woman noticed that, in hell, there were people seated around those round tables. She saw that their bodies were thin, and their faces were gaunt, and creased with frustration. Each person held a spoon. The spoons must have been three feet long! They were so long that the people in hell could reach the food on those platters, but they could not get the food back to their mouths. As the old woman watched, she heard their hungry desperate cries. "I've seen enough," she cried. "Please let me see heaven." And so again the blindfold was put around her eyes, and the old woman heard, "Now you shall see heaven." When the blindfold was removed, the old woman was confused. For there she stood again, at the entrance to a great dining hall, filled with round tables piled high with the same lavish feast. And again, she saw that there were people sitting just out of arm's reach of the food with those three-foot long spoons.

But as the old woman looked closer, she noticed that the people in heaven were plump and had rosy, happy faces. As she watched, a joyous sound of laughter filled the air. And soon the old woman was laughing too, for now she understood the difference between heaven and hell for herself. The people in heaven were using those long spoons to feed each other.

FROM TAMPA SHIRL: Meeting loved ones.////FROM JACK: I wonder how we will recognize each other.

FROM JL IN MICHIGAN: "Someday", not too soon.////FROM JACK: I read of one "religious" group that believed heaven was so wonderful that they couldn't wait to get there. The result was not good.

FROM JS IN MICHIGAN: I think the key to the Oprah quote is "someone to share it with"....I keep wondering if a lot of you folks will make it?????////FROM JACK: Martin Luther said that he'd be surprised if he made it. I wonder if he'd be surprised about you, too.////MORE FROM JS: I'll be surprised if he is there....Lutherans are a strange bunch in general....I would guess Anselm and maybe Wesley might make it....probably no Augustana Lutherans....////FROM JACK: Your response seems to indicate that you'll be there checking the registration list along with St. Peter.