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 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."

Let us journey on... in His Divine simplicity...