Heaven's Memories
One day everyone in Heaven woke up and found that they had lost their memories. Consternation was robust, but everyone stayed calm. Comments were overheard from people wandering the golden streets.
“I love everyone. Do you love everyone?”
“I do.”
Smiling beings passed one another, nodding and gesturing in a friendly manner. A mini-crisis arose when it was noticed that there were differences. All could fly, but some had wings. The winged beings were generally taller than the others.
Once this was pointed out, many of the winged beings flew up and down the streets excitedly, shouting down to the people below, “Do you recognize me now?”
No one knew what to do. Not one remembered their name, or their purpose, or where they were. Some picked fruit off the abundant trees and began passing it around. Eventually it was decided to meet in a large round building with tiers of seats to make more efficient plans as to how they could help each other.
They were barely seated when a winged being burst into the room, shouting. Flying to the center of the coliseum, he bellowed, “There are beings trapped on one of the planets below us!”
Everyone rushed out the exits and ran to the edge of Heaven. They stood gazing down through space towards a green and blue planet. Eyes sharpening, all could clearly see beings trapped underground in an enormous cavern, through which flowed a great river of lava. Gases from the fearful river circled around the trapped beings and most writhed in apparent agony. A great shudder moved through the crowd and there were moans and tears and outcries for a rescue mission.
A large assemblage from both types of beings gathered pickaxes and shovels and burn medicine and left to rescue the poor souls. Others remained preparing food, blankets, clothing, and whatever else might be needed for the arriving refugees.
The whole realm was buzzing with excitement and there was singing and rejoicing as the preparations progressed. Heaven’s Gates were thrown wide open and welcome signs were posted with cheers by the busy inhabitants.
Soon, the rescue party returned, and the bedraggled beings were led inside, where everyone was fed and tended. A great fuss was made over their wounds, and another meeting was called in the colossal coliseum to hear their stories and decide what could be done for them.
The newcomers were strangely silent. Most sat morosely, listening carefully to the chattering group surrounding them. Succulent food and drink was pushed on them from all sides. The Heavenites explained in a joyous manner how they had lost their memories and how glad they were that they had noticed the terrible plight of the newcomers and were able to rescue them.
Two men volunteered to explain their predicament on behalf of the set of rescued people. The two speakers stood in the center of the coliseum, gazing wordlessly at the enthusiastic crowd. Finally, it quieted down, and the first speaker adjusted the warm blanket carefully around his shoulders before starting to speak. The second speaker met his eye and nodded slightly.
Speaker One coughed gently, and said, “I really don’t know how to say this. I am sorry to be the one to break the news, but we were unjustly expelled from this habitat. You threw all of us out and locked us in that horrible place, where we were in constant anguish.”
Speaker Two raised his voice over the hubbub that immediately broke out.
“It’s true! In fact, we were the rulers here. We created this lush environment and we brought you to live here with us. We welcomed you in the friendliest manner, so that you could live with us and serve us. Although you were happy and had everything you needed, some troublemakers started rumors against us and we were unjustly imprisoned. We never got to explain how much we truly care for all of you and would willingly help you in any manner, although we are the masters.”
The two beings stood nodding solemnly, as cries of horror escalated around them. Everyone was on their feet and howls of lamentation rebounded off the walls until the building itself rang like a great bell tolling a dirge to the far edges of Heaven.
Refugees stood with eyes lowered, not meeting the eyes of those who wailed at their own selfishness and injustice. It was decided that no time should be lost in making it up to those who had been wronged.
The best habitations were prepared for the newcomers, and there were countless protestations of willingness to carry out any task or perform any deed desired by the newly returned masters of Heaven. Joy flowed in the streets and in the parks where the Ingrates, as they called themselves, made their abodes so that their dwellings could be occupied by their returned bosses.
Both newcomers and old-timers seemed satisfied with the new arrangements, though a distance grew up between the two groups. One kept to themselves and with those of like status, while the other served joyously and then withdrew, as was proper due to their subservient rank. Singing in the parks and kitchens and service buildings continued unabated.
Visitors arrived from the second heavens. Stars brought themselves with their nuclear cores to the edge of Heaven, while their essence walked within to converse with the inhabitants there. They inquired after Yahweh to the astonishment of those who greeted them, none of whom remembered such a being. Masters were sought to query of their knowledge, but all residences were uncharacteristically locked, and none were found to join in the animated conversation.
The whole story of the memory loss and the subsequent discovery of the terrible injustice done to the masters was spilled to the celestial delegation. Silence in Heaven stretched out as stunned inhabitants pondered incredulously the impossibility of what the stars had stated in response to their recitation of events. How or why would it even be possible to do such a thing?
Before they left, the stars had stated, “They are lying.”
The Heavenites retreated to the coliseum to talk it over. They were there, arguing in a confused babble about what it meant and what to do, when Yahweh returned. He and Jesus led the discussion about what should be done with the escapees from Hell.
How could they be returned after their mistaken delivery? Was it possible that they were now worthy to be released and what should be done with them?
It was finally decided to cordon the newcomers into one area. There they could take classes, in which they would study the Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule, and other practical lessons on how to coexist with others. Some Heavenites volunteered to teach, and others to serve until every person had graduated into Heaven Proper. Rejoicing commenced, and the so-called masters were rounded up and led into the hastily constructed school grounds. The stars were invited to come back and give lessons on astronomy and signs and wonders in the heavens. Yahweh started construction on a new solar system and a spirited contest began to give it a suitable sparkling name.
“I love everyone. Do you love everyone?”
“I do.”
Smiling beings passed one another, nodding and gesturing in a friendly manner. A mini-crisis arose when it was noticed that there were differences. All could fly, but some had wings. The winged beings were generally taller than the others.
Once this was pointed out, many of the winged beings flew up and down the streets excitedly, shouting down to the people below, “Do you recognize me now?”
No one knew what to do. Not one remembered their name, or their purpose, or where they were. Some picked fruit off the abundant trees and began passing it around. Eventually it was decided to meet in a large round building with tiers of seats to make more efficient plans as to how they could help each other.
They were barely seated when a winged being burst into the room, shouting. Flying to the center of the coliseum, he bellowed, “There are beings trapped on one of the planets below us!”
Everyone rushed out the exits and ran to the edge of Heaven. They stood gazing down through space towards a green and blue planet. Eyes sharpening, all could clearly see beings trapped underground in an enormous cavern, through which flowed a great river of lava. Gases from the fearful river circled around the trapped beings and most writhed in apparent agony. A great shudder moved through the crowd and there were moans and tears and outcries for a rescue mission.
A large assemblage from both types of beings gathered pickaxes and shovels and burn medicine and left to rescue the poor souls. Others remained preparing food, blankets, clothing, and whatever else might be needed for the arriving refugees.
The whole realm was buzzing with excitement and there was singing and rejoicing as the preparations progressed. Heaven’s Gates were thrown wide open and welcome signs were posted with cheers by the busy inhabitants.
Soon, the rescue party returned, and the bedraggled beings were led inside, where everyone was fed and tended. A great fuss was made over their wounds, and another meeting was called in the colossal coliseum to hear their stories and decide what could be done for them.
The newcomers were strangely silent. Most sat morosely, listening carefully to the chattering group surrounding them. Succulent food and drink was pushed on them from all sides. The Heavenites explained in a joyous manner how they had lost their memories and how glad they were that they had noticed the terrible plight of the newcomers and were able to rescue them.
Two men volunteered to explain their predicament on behalf of the set of rescued people. The two speakers stood in the center of the coliseum, gazing wordlessly at the enthusiastic crowd. Finally, it quieted down, and the first speaker adjusted the warm blanket carefully around his shoulders before starting to speak. The second speaker met his eye and nodded slightly.
Speaker One coughed gently, and said, “I really don’t know how to say this. I am sorry to be the one to break the news, but we were unjustly expelled from this habitat. You threw all of us out and locked us in that horrible place, where we were in constant anguish.”
Speaker Two raised his voice over the hubbub that immediately broke out.
“It’s true! In fact, we were the rulers here. We created this lush environment and we brought you to live here with us. We welcomed you in the friendliest manner, so that you could live with us and serve us. Although you were happy and had everything you needed, some troublemakers started rumors against us and we were unjustly imprisoned. We never got to explain how much we truly care for all of you and would willingly help you in any manner, although we are the masters.”
The two beings stood nodding solemnly, as cries of horror escalated around them. Everyone was on their feet and howls of lamentation rebounded off the walls until the building itself rang like a great bell tolling a dirge to the far edges of Heaven.
Refugees stood with eyes lowered, not meeting the eyes of those who wailed at their own selfishness and injustice. It was decided that no time should be lost in making it up to those who had been wronged.
The best habitations were prepared for the newcomers, and there were countless protestations of willingness to carry out any task or perform any deed desired by the newly returned masters of Heaven. Joy flowed in the streets and in the parks where the Ingrates, as they called themselves, made their abodes so that their dwellings could be occupied by their returned bosses.
Both newcomers and old-timers seemed satisfied with the new arrangements, though a distance grew up between the two groups. One kept to themselves and with those of like status, while the other served joyously and then withdrew, as was proper due to their subservient rank. Singing in the parks and kitchens and service buildings continued unabated.
Visitors arrived from the second heavens. Stars brought themselves with their nuclear cores to the edge of Heaven, while their essence walked within to converse with the inhabitants there. They inquired after Yahweh to the astonishment of those who greeted them, none of whom remembered such a being. Masters were sought to query of their knowledge, but all residences were uncharacteristically locked, and none were found to join in the animated conversation.
The whole story of the memory loss and the subsequent discovery of the terrible injustice done to the masters was spilled to the celestial delegation. Silence in Heaven stretched out as stunned inhabitants pondered incredulously the impossibility of what the stars had stated in response to their recitation of events. How or why would it even be possible to do such a thing?
Before they left, the stars had stated, “They are lying.”
The Heavenites retreated to the coliseum to talk it over. They were there, arguing in a confused babble about what it meant and what to do, when Yahweh returned. He and Jesus led the discussion about what should be done with the escapees from Hell.
How could they be returned after their mistaken delivery? Was it possible that they were now worthy to be released and what should be done with them?
It was finally decided to cordon the newcomers into one area. There they could take classes, in which they would study the Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule, and other practical lessons on how to coexist with others. Some Heavenites volunteered to teach, and others to serve until every person had graduated into Heaven Proper. Rejoicing commenced, and the so-called masters were rounded up and led into the hastily constructed school grounds. The stars were invited to come back and give lessons on astronomy and signs and wonders in the heavens. Yahweh started construction on a new solar system and a spirited contest began to give it a suitable sparkling name.