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Writer
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 28
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The meaning of life...?
Jewel was in position. Her shoulders lay comfortably on the edge of her queen sized bed, more relaxed than they had been all day. More relaxed than they had ever been. She slowly, almost ceremonially, clasped her hands together, and lay her head carefully on her new headrest. She was ready to pray. She had done this for the past two years and five months. The same slight motions, the same exact position. She was very passionate about her religious acts, and believed that god was very interrogative, watching her every move. No where in her eleven year old mind did she once think that god does not have the time to look after only one person. She wasn't selfish, just very simple minded, as all eleven year old girls might be.
"God, thank you for everything you have given me, my toys, my friends, and most of all my family. Please forgive me if I have sinned. Please keep my family out of harms way, and everyone that I know safe and sound. Make the bad people good, and let them catch Osama Bin Laden. But don't punish him, because everyone can become good after death. Thank you god."
Then before she realized it she added:
"Please answer my prayers!"
Why had she shouted this? Was she desperate to get an answer, and not just hope? Didn't she know that god never spoke to people directly, but what her mom called "spiritually"? What was the point?
"Yes?"
What was that?
"Who is it?"
"....Jewel it is god, the one you pray, and devote your faith to."
"I don't believe you. You are just a voice..."
Then Jewel felt an extraordinary lift in spirit, and a profound understanding of her situation. This was god trying to make her realize that he was present with her, that he could do anything, even make her believe something she didn't. She was suddenly convinced, as if by an invisible force, that god was there.
"Ok, and why do you choose to speak to me, god?"
"Well, Jewel, I wanted to give you a chance to gain more knowledge."
"How?"
"....Well, for five minutes I will let you ask me any questions you want"
Jewel thought about this. Was this really happening. Was she in a dream that was turning into something very realistic? Might as well go along with it.
"God, why are there so many wars in the world?"
"Well my child, people don't get along, they have different views. Simple as that."
"But that is too simple, I want a more descriptive answer.... Fine, what is the meaning of life?"
"Well, the meaning of life is to not die a virgin"
"Why are you telling me that?"
"Well that is what mostly everyone prays for. That is what most people want from their lives. I received 33 million prayers for that alone in the last minute."
A little laughter escaped god's voice. Did god really have a sense of humor? Why wasn't he serious? There were so many problems in the world!
"How can you laugh, when there is so much work to be done?"
"Well, I have been doing this job for a while you know...."
What was going on... job?
"God, are you really god?
"I am g_d"
"What?"
"I am g_d"
Suddenly Jewel felt immense terror. Was this the devil she was speaking to? Why was this not feeling right? What was wrong with this picture? She started to shake uncontrollably, fearing eternal damnation. What was this?
...
God felt this. He immediately changed her feelings into euphoria. She tried to resist, thinking it's the devil's work.
"My child, don't be afraid, the devil is not present, and only I am here. Do not shake and tremble. You are too serious about faith, and do not realize that life is more about you than me. That is why I gave humans free will, so they could decide on their own, and not be controlled by a higher force. That is dictatorship, and people who do anything wrong in my name do not realize that they chose this by themselves. Do not be so devoted to this god that you constantly think of. Live your life child, that is the purpose of human kind."
Jewel listened, but did not quite understand.
"God"
"Are you the only god?"
"Yes"
"There is no Buddha?"
"I am him"
"Allah?"
"I am him"
"What are you?"
"I am you"
and with that Jewel felt the presence go away. She had been wrong on religion. It was not more important that let's say eating her cheerios, or brushing her teeth. It was an everyday thing that she just did. Or believed.
Jewel became a successful writer in her later years, and married into a decent husband. She had three kids, which she all outlived. She never prayed since that one day, but yet she was still happy.
On her death bed, as she looked into her old husband young eyes, she finally understood what god had meant in his parting words. She had created happiness, not god.
The End
Last edited by stanza-reel : 03-05-2008 at 12:56 AM.
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