“Hello.”
“Hi.”
“You’re so young.”
“Yes, my mother didn’t want me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I was an inconvenience. You know, I happened at a bad time. She had a lot going on in her life. I used to hear her arguing with her boyfriend about me. He told her another kid was a really bad idea. She loved me…I’m sure she did. I just never got to hear her say it.”
“I’m so sorry. I see a lot of young children like you.”
“You do?”
“Oh, yes. Millions over the years.”
“I thought I might be the first.”
“No, child. No.”
“It would have been nice to get to know her.”
“Yes, it’s too bad. Of course, she doesn’t know it yet but 40 years from now she’ll have a stroke and you won’t be there to take care of her. She’ll be alone.”
“How sad for her. He didn’t stay?”
“No.”
“What happens now?”
“Well, do you see the door on the right? I’d like you to go through that door.”
“Will I like what I find?”
“Definitely.”
“Okay, then. Thanks.”
“You’re most welcome.”
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.
All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
“Oh my, there are four of you.”
“Yeah.”
“Little girl, please tell me what happened.”
“Daddy lost control of the car and we crashed.”
“That’s horrible. Why did he lose control?”
“He was screaming at my mom and when he looked over and took a swing at her, the car went off the road and we crashed.”
“She needed to be taught a lesson.”
“Sir, please be quiet until I get to you. Continue young lady.”
“He hits her a lot. And he hits me and my little brother too.”
“Sir, why do you think it’s OK to strike your wife and children? What gives you the right to do that?”
“I need to keep her in line. I don’t want her cheatin’ on me. Sometimes a woman needs to be reminded who’s in charge. And all them kids do is complain.”
“You, sir, are sadly misguided. Your wife simply wants you to cherish her, love her, and to provide for her and your children. There are no other men in her life. She’s only interested in you. Unfortunately, your actions resulted in the loss of your entire family.”
“Well, she shoulda listened better.”
“Sir, please go through the door on the left.”
“What about them?”
“Little girl, take your momma and little brother and go through the door on the right.”
“So, I don’t go with them?”
“No. You will never see them again. I’m sorry.”
“Whatever.”
“Bye, daddy. Come on momma.”
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Hello there, young man.”
“Hello, sir. We’ve been expecting you.”
“Haha. Yes, I’ve waited a long time for this moment.”
“I believe I met your wife not too long ago.”
“That’s right. She arrived a few years ago. I’m quite sure you sent her through the door on the right.”
“Yes, I did.”
“The door on the left needs some repairs. The hinges are pretty worn and it needs paint. I could fix it for you before I go in.”
“No, that’s not necessary. A lot more people go through the door on the left than the one you’re going through.”
“I can’t wait.”
“In that case, go through the door on the right.”
“Thank you. Oh, my kids will be coming this way in another 30 or 40 years. Tell them we’re waiting for them.”
“I will, sir. Nice to finally meet you.”
“Yeah, me too. Thank you.”
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
“Hello, doctor.”
“Where am I?”
“It’s hard to describe. You’re at the place where people take their next step into the afterlife.”
“OK. I should be good then.”
“And why is that, sir?”
“I’m a doctor. I saved lives. That’ll get me in, right?”
“Well, I’m afraid it’s not what people do that ‘gets them in’.”
“What is it then?”
“It’s what they believe.”
“Well, tell me what to believe and I’ll be fine.”
“You needed to believe it, doctor, before you got here. I’m afraid it’s too late now.”
“I saw that other guy, the wife beater, go through the door on the left. I’m certain I’ll be on the right.”
“Unfortunately, doctor, you too will go through the door on the left. When you do, it will become very clear why.”
“That’s not right. I’m a doctor. I took care of people. That must count for something.”
“I’m afraid not, doc. The door on the left please.”
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“Hi. You’re not very old, are you?”
“15.”
“What brings you here at such a young age?”
“I just got tired of trying to figure stuff out. Guess I had a bad go.”
“What stuff?”
“Like, why did they pick at me, all the time? And why didn’t anyone stop me when I was robotripping on CCC or smokin’ crystal? Didn’t they care? Was I so different that I had no value? Tripping made me forget who I was.”
“I haven’t met your parents yet, so I’m not sure why they were distracted and ignored you.”
“That’s funny. They were distracted… Anyway, it looks like I OD’d on ice. Happened to a friend of mine recently.”
“Yes, I remember her. Remind me what ice is?”
“Meth, crystal, chalk. Where you been?”
“Out of touch, I guess. It’s hard to keep up. Most of the people who come here on drugs are very sad.”
“We are sad. Life sucks. It… smells bad. It’s like I was living in a dark alleyway and no matter where I looked, I couldn’t see light. Some days I was stressed. Others, bored. But every day, I felt alone. Like…nobody cared. What’s the point of livin’ like that?”
“Did your parents take you to church?”
“Church? No man.”
“That’s too bad. You would have heard how much you are loved and valued by your creator.”
“Never heard that. Wouldn’t have believed it even if I did. So, let’s get moving here. Looks like the line is pretty long and I need a hit.”
“I’m so sorry that you had such a sad and difficult life. And I’m sorry you never met the one person who could have made it all better.”
“That person doesn’t exist.”
“He does. Please enter the door on the left.”
“They got any crank there?”
“I’m sure they do.”
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
“I’ve met several young children today. I’m sorry you are here.”
“My mom was going to give me up for adoption but her parents insisted she ‘get rid of me’.”
“Her parents said that?”
“Yup. Her dad’s some big shot and he didn’t want a kid gettin’ in her way. She’s ready to head off to college.”
“This is so sad. You were going to be a world-renowned oncologist when you got older.”
“No way. Really?”
“Yes. You found the cure.”
“What cure?”
“The cure for cancer. Several months ago I met the unborn child, like yourself, who would have discovered the cure for Alzheimer’s Disease.”
“That’s bad. I figured it out?”
“You did. Unfortunately, your obsession with science would have taken you far from a relationship with your creator. You laughed at the idea that life is part of a divine plan.”
“Creator? So I rejected Him in favor of science? I believe that. Science probably made sense to me.”
“I’m sorry to tell you that after you go through the door on the left, your opinions will change.”
“I doubt it. Who are you anyway?”
“I guard the doors and make sure people go where they belong.”
“A sentinel?”
“Something like that.”
“Do you ever sleep?”
“No. Never.”
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Matthew 25:31-46
Which door will you go through?
The Chronicles of Egydyus Flombosi 