Chapter 52 end

One last memory. This was shortly before the Archmage died. He was talking about heaven when suddenly, for no apparent reason, an idea occurred to me. What would happen if you could only spend five minutes with God? five minutes?he asks. Five minutes, I said.God is very busy.You're allotted this piece of heaven, five minutes alone with God, and then, poof, you're headed down, wherever you want next. How about five minutes?He was interested. During those five minutes, you can ask God any question you want. Oh, I got it. He leaned back in his chair, as if asking the air around him for advice.

First I would say: Do me a favor, God in heaven, please, if my family members need help, please show them the way in this world, give them a little guidance. Fine, one minute goes by. For the next three minutes, I will say: Lord, spend the rest of your time with those who are suffering and need Your love and counsel. Are you willing to give up three minutes? For those who really need it, yes. Very good, I said.Then you have one minute. great.This last minute, I'll say: Listen to me, Lord, I've done so much good on earth.I strive to follow your teachings and pass them on to others.I love my family.I am part of the community.And I think I treat people pretty well.

So, Father in Heaven, what will I be rewarded for all this? What do you think God would say? he smiles. He would say: pay?What reward?That's all your part! I laughed, and he slapped his thigh and laughed, and our laughter filled the room.In that moment, we can be anywhere, in any capacity, in any culture, in any religion, a teacher and a student discussing what life is all about and reveling in the results of what we discover. Initially, there was a problem.Finally, the question has an answer.God sang and we hummed along, the melodies varied, but it was all one song and one beautiful human song.

I am in love with hope.