Rusty Old Shed

It was an amazing story.

Told with humor, which completely held my attention

and authority, which utterly peaked my curiosity.

I found myself entering into its mystery and believing the lesson of the tale.

I have not been able to let it go.

 I bring it to life now – using my imagination to embellish the details; making it my own.

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She arrived at the Pearly Gates of Heaven and was met by a smiling man in a white robe. “Christine, it is good that you are here!  I will be your tour guide and show you around this place,” spoke Saint Peter.  Christine was aware of all that she left behind: her possessions, achievements and stresses she had in her life on earth.  Her heart remained full of love given, and love received. But, she still carried a feeling in her gut – a feeling of being dissatisfied.  It was with her on earth and now seemed to carry over into her new eternal life. Christine simply ignored it and turned her attention to Saint Peter, noticing the lightness and freedom in each of his steps. 

“Are you ready to begin exploring heaven and all its offerings?”  

Saint Peter led Christine to a beautiful meadow overflowing with cherry blossoms and a running, clear stream.  The colors everywhere were so vibrant and the air so fresh with a sweet fragrant smell. All this beauty and yet Christine was fixated on an old metal shed she spotted in the distance – rusted and worn from the passing of time.  She was quick to inquire, “What is that and why is it here?”  Saint Peter answered, “Oh, it is nothing – leave it be”.  And the tour continued.

Before Chris’s eyes were snow-capped mountains with peaks engulfed in the misty haze of clouds. Lowering her gaze, the shadowed valleys summoned her to explore their many paths. As she scanned the landscape, the sight of the old rusty metal shed, again, came into view. She couldn’t help but inquire further, “What is that and why does it seem to be following us every place we go?”  Knowing Chris would not stop asking until satisfied with an explanation, Saint Peter invited her to move toward to the shed.

Once closer Chris could not help but remark, “What is this terrible looking shed doing here in heaven?  What purpose can it hold?”  With that said, Saint Peter opened the door to reveal a giant warehouse of shelves.  Each shelf contained boxes, all tied with red ribbons.   Saint Peter explained, “Every box contains the name of a person who lived on earth.  And within each box is placed the blessings that went unrecognized and unused during their lives.  These boxes of blessings are then stored away in this old rusty shed.”

Christine scanned the area in search of her name.   She passed countless number of boxes in varying shapes and sizes.  She knew each box represented how well the person lived, each size revealing the specific number of blessings lost and forgotten.  As she came upon her own, Chris could feel that hollow pit return to her stomach.  Her box was rather large and she now understood that the remedy for her discontent was here within her grasp. So many blessings she had failed to recognize and accept throughout the days of her life, now carefully placed in that box - neatly tied with a pretty red ribbon – stored for eternity in a rusty old shed.

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My prayer is that we uncover and use every blessing set before us 

 Leaving nothing to be stored in heaven.

(Thank you Sister Pat Duffy for the gift of this tale)