mildly amusing, had it not been so very tragic.
“Remember, I’m here too, Benny,” Serena said in a soft voice. “I’m as guilty, no, more guilty than you. I practiced witchcraft, dishonored my mother, worshiped a pagan goddess, and committed adultery. Then I refused to accept God’s salvation through Christ, because I had become so bitter and sarcastic about how the world had treated me that I couldn’t see God’s love. Maybe I got what I deserved. Maybe Hell should be my home.”
Benny lowered his arms. He felt so very small. His careless words had just made things all the worse. “I’m sorry, Serena.”
“I wonder what it’s going to be like,” said Serena, whose mind had already wandered elsewhere. “Hell; that is. Is it a lake of fire, a huge dungeon filled with cruel and ingenious devices of torture, or what?”
“I’m afraid we’re going to find out soon enough,” replied Benny, “There’s nothing we can do about that. Why should we continue to dwell on it? Let us agree to speak of it no further. Why don’t you tell me a little bit about yourself, Serena? I’d really like to get to know you better, even if we never meet again. Regardless of God’s judgment, I believe that anyone who loves her husband as deeply and sincerely as you do, is a person worth knowing.”
Serena smiled slightly. Right now, she was really thankful to have someone like Benny to keep her company. They both sat down on their cell floors and spoke of their lives—their aspirations and hopes, philosophies and attitudes, life and love, as if it still mattered. After a long time, they both curled up and fell asleep on the cold floor.
chapter three
C HRIS felt no fear as he boldly stepped into the glowing ethereal tunnel. Yet, for an instant, there was a sense of confusion; a sense that something was missing. He glanced at his right hand as if expecting to see something within it. It was empty. It wasn’t empty just a few seconds ago, he was certain of it. What had happened? The Earth behind him, and his life upon it, had become a blur. Why couldn’t he remember?
That wasn’t important right now. No, he would try to put all of that together later. Right now, he was positively overwhelmed by the vastness and beauty of this place. The light ahead of him was bright, and was becoming brighter by the second. It was magnificent. Yet, his eyes were easily adapting to the changing illumination.
He looked around and saw a cylindrical wall of gray clouds, slowly swirling. Here and there, diffused ribbons of light threaded their way through the billowing mists. He was convinced that he was witnessing the subtle glow from hidden bolts of lightning traveling through the depths of the clouds, yet they were not accompanied by any auditory sensation resembling thunder.
He looked down to discover what he already expected; there was absolutely nothing beneath his feet but empty space. He was floating free, weightless. But he experienced none of the vertigo that he certainly would have experienced had his earthly body been placed in the midst of such vastness.
He never cared much for flying. When the captain turned on the “fasten seatbelt” sign, and warned of impending turbulence, he was inevitably the first passenger to go for the little bag in the seat pocket in front of him. Yet, this time he had no problems at all. Actually, this flight was sort of fun.
Stranger still, there was no fear. The sense of indescribable love and peace that he had felt at the entrance to the tunnel was far greater now—it had become all encompassing. If these emotions could be transformed into a tangible entity, they were present within this tunnel. He knew that he was not alone, though he could see no one. He knew he was in good hands, so why worry? For now, he would simply enjoy the ride.
He looked around again, this time with a more analytical eye. How wide was this tunnel of light? He could hardly imagine. There were no points of
“Remember, I’m here too, Benny,” Serena said in a soft voice. “I’m as guilty, no, more guilty than you. I practiced witchcraft, dishonored my mother, worshiped a pagan goddess, and committed adultery. Then I refused to accept God’s salvation through Christ, because I had become so bitter and sarcastic about how the world had treated me that I couldn’t see God’s love. Maybe I got what I deserved. Maybe Hell should be my home.”
Benny lowered his arms. He felt so very small. His careless words had just made things all the worse. “I’m sorry, Serena.”
“I wonder what it’s going to be like,” said Serena, whose mind had already wandered elsewhere. “Hell; that is. Is it a lake of fire, a huge dungeon filled with cruel and ingenious devices of torture, or what?”
“I’m afraid we’re going to find out soon enough,” replied Benny, “There’s nothing we can do about that. Why should we continue to dwell on it? Let us agree to speak of it no further. Why don’t you tell me a little bit about yourself, Serena? I’d really like to get to know you better, even if we never meet again. Regardless of God’s judgment, I believe that anyone who loves her husband as deeply and sincerely as you do, is a person worth knowing.”
Serena smiled slightly. Right now, she was really thankful to have someone like Benny to keep her company. They both sat down on their cell floors and spoke of their lives—their aspirations and hopes, philosophies and attitudes, life and love, as if it still mattered. After a long time, they both curled up and fell asleep on the cold floor.
chapter three
C HRIS felt no fear as he boldly stepped into the glowing ethereal tunnel. Yet, for an instant, there was a sense of confusion; a sense that something was missing. He glanced at his right hand as if expecting to see something within it. It was empty. It wasn’t empty just a few seconds ago, he was certain of it. What had happened? The Earth behind him, and his life upon it, had become a blur. Why couldn’t he remember?
That wasn’t important right now. No, he would try to put all of that together later. Right now, he was positively overwhelmed by the vastness and beauty of this place. The light ahead of him was bright, and was becoming brighter by the second. It was magnificent. Yet, his eyes were easily adapting to the changing illumination.
He looked around and saw a cylindrical wall of gray clouds, slowly swirling. Here and there, diffused ribbons of light threaded their way through the billowing mists. He was convinced that he was witnessing the subtle glow from hidden bolts of lightning traveling through the depths of the clouds, yet they were not accompanied by any auditory sensation resembling thunder.
He looked down to discover what he already expected; there was absolutely nothing beneath his feet but empty space. He was floating free, weightless. But he experienced none of the vertigo that he certainly would have experienced had his earthly body been placed in the midst of such vastness.
He never cared much for flying. When the captain turned on the “fasten seatbelt” sign, and warned of impending turbulence, he was inevitably the first passenger to go for the little bag in the seat pocket in front of him. Yet, this time he had no problems at all. Actually, this flight was sort of fun.
Stranger still, there was no fear. The sense of indescribable love and peace that he had felt at the entrance to the tunnel was far greater now—it had become all encompassing. If these emotions could be transformed into a tangible entity, they were present within this tunnel. He knew that he was not alone, though he could see no one. He knew he was in good hands, so why worry? For now, he would simply enjoy the ride.
He looked around again, this time with a more analytical eye. How wide was this tunnel of light? He could hardly imagine. There were no points of
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