Heaven and Hell

The Madman sat under one of the many

olive trees in the large garden next to the tea
shoppe. He had refilled his venerable ceramic

mug from a samovar in the Shoppe, and was

savoring the sweet tea while his kitten batted
and pounced upon a dried crust of bread.

The Madman’s thoughts were full of the Beloved
and one of the Divine Names softly played upon his
lips as he sat. The breeze was warm and the scent
of flowers, smoke, and cooking food combined in
a most heady perfume.

Into this tableau, a man of very earnest mien approached
the Madman.
“Excuse me, good sir, but my I ask you a question?”

The kitten looked up from Her crust curiously,
and the dervish simply replied,
“ask, then.”

“If you were to die tonight do you know where you
would go?”

The Madman took a sip of tea.
“Into the grave, I suppose. The place we all end up.”

“I know that. I mean where will your soul go? Will
you be in Heaven or in Hell?”

“It seems to me that the two are inexorably interwoven,”
the Madman said, “in Heaven there is Hell and in Hell there
is Heaven.”

The man looked shocked.
“That is not possible foolish one! It says in my scripture
here that the blessed go to Heaven, and the damned…”

“Yes. Yes,” the dervish said kindly, “go to Hell.”

“I know all that, and my experience tells me that is
not so, for I experience the two as interwoven.”

“Experience means nothing! Faith means everything!”
the man said, jabbing his finger at the dervish.
“The two cannot be interwoven, as you say. That is
contrary to Faith and scripture!”

The kitten bristled a bit at this, and settled down close to
Her friend.

“Allow me to explain, good sir. As I set here under this tree,
at this time, in this place, with these conditions, holding my
tea, softly singing my Beloved’s name as my companion plays
quietly, is Heaven. The Bliss of my wife’s arms is Heaven. To pray
to the Beloved is Heaven.
Now, when a storm comes, and in it’s fury
drives me to seek shelter, in the Shoppe,
which is also crowded with others seeking
refuge from the storm, I am pushed and jostled,
and my feet are stepped on, my kitten is safe in
my pocket lest she be stepped on as well.
Hell has entered into Heaven .
The storm passes.
The sun returns, and everyone goes out to
resume their lives and doings. I return to my
tree, and to singing God’s name, and my kitten
resumes Her hunt. Heaven has arisen out of
Hell. They are forever intertwined.”

“You ARE mad!” the man says loudly.
“When Faith encounters experience, Faith
always must supersede! Do you wish to hear
my wonderful plan of salvation from your obvious ignorance!?”

“No. No thank you, but no. Your concern for my soul is
commendable, but I have heard it all before.”

“You then are more than mad, you are a fool!

I am taking my leave of you, so that you may simmer in
your sins. May God have mercy on you!”

“At every moment, every breath, God has such mercy for me.”

The man rose from where he had set, and walked purposely
away from the dervish..

“Are you then leaving me here, with no further word?”
the Madman asked.

“Indeed I am, sir. Good Bye!”

“My point exactly, Heaven has arisen from Hell.”

The Madman smiled .

A look of fury crossed the man’s face, which
grew red.

“And see, Hell itself has arisen.”

Uttering an epithet, the man hurried away.

The afternoon wind almost sounded as if God were
laughing.

“Mew”

“So True little one.”

And they relaxed into a sweet nap
As Heaven embraced them.


TF © 29Aug2010