MICHAEL: On the surface, yes. But what else?
Ebenezer: What do you mean, what else?
MICHAEL: Are they, or are they not receiving anything in return?
Ebenezer: Well, there are a few benefits that such giving provides. For one, most of these organizations are structured this way, which allows for those that give to receive a charitable deduction against their own income.
MICHAEL: Anything else?
Ebenezer: I’m not sure I can think of anything else...
MICHAEL: You can. What else concerning the system do you know about?
Ebenezer: Well, I know that those receiving donations face limitations as to how involved they can be in influencing such things as legislation or supporting political candidates…
MICHAEL: Interesting.
Ebenezer: Interesting… what?
MICHAEL: I will provide no further opinion on this and will leave that to you to draw out your own conclusion based on the knowledge I have given you and the assessment you have brought to the table.
Ebenezer: Mr. Prince, any thoughts on the matter?
Prince: (Tapping Finger) … Moving on.
Chapter 9
The Heavenlies
—
December 31, 2019
Netzach and Mr. Bigsby continued along the path toward their destination, and Mr. Bigsby continued to take in all of his surroundings. He noticed to his right a large, clear, winding river flowing through the bustling city in the opposite direction, and heavenly beings were using its water for various things. Some were in it, some were scooping it, others were simply watching it—it was a powerful and abundant river, and it was clear that its water was giving each of the heavenly beings their sustenance. Mr. Bigsby tried to follow the river with his eyes all the way to its source but couldn’t. He did, however, notice that it spiraled onward and onward, in the exact direction of the beaming light that Netzach had bowed to earlier, a light that appeared to be illuminating every area that the two went. As they walked along the path, Mr. Bigsby also noticed many beautifully built mansions, and all the roads leading toward them were a clear and brightly tinted gold. Even the path they walked on, as he looked down at his feet, appeared to be such—so much so that he could see his own reflection staring directly back at him. Various species of beautiful flowers were planted along the stunning mansions. He noticed tiny signposts out in front of them, each stating the same thing: “Positions of Authority.”
“Netzach, do people need to eat in this place?”
Netzach continued along but shook his head “no,” all the while reaching from somewhere Mr. Bigsby couldn’t see and pulling out a small bag of chips.
“Here in the Heavenlies, there is nothing like hunger or thirst. The Fountain of the Water of Life provides the sustenance every heavenly being needs. There is eating and drinking here, but it isn’t for the same purpose as to how you Earth Dwellers use it. Here, eating and drinking are for enjoyment, not for sustenance,” he added while taking a tiny bite.
They continued along, passing more beautifully crafted mansions, various heavenly beings, and numerous species of plants. All the while, the winding river beside them kept flowing, still crystal clear. Off to the far right, on the other side of the river, a group of angels congregated together, surrounding something massive, a clock it seemed, whose pendulum was slowly swinging back and forth.
“What is that, Netzach? What are those seraphim doing?” Mr. Bigsby asked.
Without breaking stride or even turning his head to look, Netzach began to wave his arm from left to right.
“What you see is called the Pendulum of Life, and it swings between darkness and light, midnight and morning. Think of it like you would a thermometer. A thermometer reads the temperature of the environment. In the same way, the Pendulum of Life reads the temperature of the Earth and provides us in the Heavenlies with a reading of the amount of darkness that exists in the Earth at any particular time. The pendulum stays stagnant for most of the day, but at the appropriate time, based on the choosing of the Boss, it begins to sway for exactly three minutes and then settles on the current ‘temperature’ on Earth. Usually, quite a few angels make their way over to watch it swing. I, myself, have other things to do, as we are constantly giving more and more new residents tours of our facilities.”
“Interesting,” Mr. Bigsby commented as he turned his entire body and began walking backward, watching both the seraphim and the pendulum sway back and forth. What a sight to see, he thought.
After a few moments, the two reached a massive building, unlike anything Mr. Bigsby had seen up until that time, and one that was more beautiful and vibrant and heavily adorned with all types of precious stones. It reached up as high as the eye could see, and it was plastered with large windows on every single side.
Netzach stopped in front of the building and placed his hands on his hips, admiring it. “Jasper, sapphire, and emerald adorn it, to name just a few. Twelve different precious stones are placed right into the fabric of this building you see right here. All of them were created by my Boss, for Himself. Are you ready to go inside?”
Mr. Bigsby, mesmerized over the height and the beauty of the architecture of the building, nodded his head “yes,” though he hadn’t really paid any attention to the question.
“Come along then. As I mentioned, this building is the WOH building, or what you Earth Dwellers may have referred to as the ‘Windows of Heaven.’”
As the two entered, Mr. Bigsby noticed that the place was bustling with various kinds of seraphim, both large and small, who were manning each of the windows that riddled the walls of the building. Next to each of them was what appeared to be a large, black storage box, and thousands upon thousands of them lined the interior walls of the building right next to a corresponding window. Every few seconds, one of the seraphim would bow his head in the same manner Netzach had done and proceed to open up both the window where they were standing and the large storage shed they were manning. It all happened at lighting-like speed, however—so quickly that Mr. Bigsby couldn’t tell what was actually leaving the shed storage and exiting through the window.
Mr. Bigsby, paying little attention to the angels at work, continued walking down the long, seemingly endless hallway of angels, windows, and storage sheds, watching them open and close at blistering speed.
“This is just one of about a thousand floors,” Netzach mentioned.
“Incredible. What are these storage sheds?” Mr. Bigsby asked.
Netzach stopped at one of the units, greeted the seraph attending it, and carefully opened it up. There were treasures upon treasures of different kinds inside of it.
“Wow,” Mr. Bigsby exclaimed.
As fast as he opened it, Netzach quickly shut the unit closed.
“These storage houses belong to every living Earth Dweller. Every Earth Dweller has unique treasures of various kinds within his storage space and has a delegated seraph on duty manning it to give him access to the things inside when appropriate.
Mr. Bigsby acknowledged the statement and turned his attention to the rest of his surroundings. He noticed that some angels were sitting down, while others seemed extremely busy, facilitating and overseeing the opening up and closing of the windows and each respective storehouse. He noticed that some storage houses even looked worn down and overused, while others looked brand-new, and some were even covered with cobwebs.
“Hello, Netzach. How are you?” A seraph was just passing by who appeared to be overseeing each of the seraphim manning the windows.
“Oh, things are splendid, Barachiel. How are you?”
“Things have slowed down quite a bit, but outside of that, I can’t complain much,” he responded, shrugging his shoulders.
“I hear you. Hopefully, things will pick up soon. Do you have the key to the 1,000th floor?” Netzach asked him.
Barachiel reached into his pocket, pulled from it a single key, and tossed it over to Netzach.
“Here
you go. Good luck up there,” he remarked.
Both Netzach and Mr. Bigsby continued walking down the long corridor until they reached a side entrance that looked something like an elevator. But instead of pushing any buttons, they were instantly transported upward until they reached another floor. A sign on the wall read “The 1,000th Floor.”
As they stepped off, Mr. Bigsby noticed that the seraphim on this floor were all occupied with things other than their assigned storehouse and the window they presumably should have been manning. Netzach paced past a few of the storehouses, inspecting each of them with great diligence until he finally stopped at one in particular, which was overrun with cobwebs. There were no seraphim manning it, and there was a red piece of tape labeled on it that simply read “REASSIGN.” He reached for the handle and tried with all his might to open it.
It wouldn’t budge.
“Some help here?” he requested, turning to Mr. Bigsby.
Mr. Bigsby walked over and began to use his strength to try and open the storehouse. After some prying, it finally swung open. Inside were the most beautiful treasures Mr. Bigsby had ever seen. It was so full that many of the treasures fell out from inside it.
“Incredible. This person must be important. Whom does this belong to?” he asked.
Netzach went over to the front door of the unit and began picking off the red tape. After a few moments, he waved for Mr. Bigsby to come over. To his surprise, the name plastered across the front of the storehouse was none other than his.
Chapter 10
Earth
—
December 31, 2019
Ebenezer: Okay, moving on then. I would like to ask you both a few questions related to the true meaning of several words as they relate to both of your missions to assess whether there may be any similarities or differences between your fundamental beliefs beyond what we have already discussed here today. Do the two of you agree to participate?
MICHAEL: Yes.
PRINCE: Ask your questions, and if I am in the answering mood and oblige, I may provide my perspective.
Ebenezer: I can’t say I wasn’t expecting that response from you, Mr. Prince, so I will proceed anyway.
PRINCE: Proceed.
Ebenezer: I would first like to inquire of both of you as to your perspective and opinion on the meaning of the words echoed at the beginning of our Declaration of Independence. As it reads, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness.” Please, Michael, could you first define for me, in your own words, the meaning of the word freedom.
MICHAEL: That is simple. Freedom is responsibility, self-determination, and work.
Ebenezer: Mr. Prince?
PRINCE: Simple indeed! Freedom is defined as a state where one is accountable to no being other than himself, but also a state where he may live in a constant state of dependence on others—a state where he has no obligation to pursue and achieve any type of life-giving work on his own initiative.
MICHAEL: Let me also add that freedom is doing the right thing.
PRINCE: No, true freedom does not define what is right or wrong, for right and wrong are left up to the individual to decide. Right and wrong are relative to each individual, and therefore, to the majority within the context of democracy.
MICHAEL: Freedom means one seeks to control his own behavior without the coercion of external forces such as government.
PRINCE: In true freedom, external coercion and control are necessary to maintain a functioning society!
MICHAEL: Freedom, I should add, is a major attribute of my Commander.
PRINCE: Freedom is a major attribute of mine as well. In fact, my master promises it to all of his followers in abundance, and there is no one to regulate what you say or do!
MICHAEL: Freedom is the power of the mind to choose between alternatives.
PRINCE: Yes, freedom does permit one the right to choose between alternatives, but with no restraints on those alternatives.
MICHAEL: Freedom is paramount to moral responsibility.
PRINCE: What is moral responsibility? True freedom has no moral responsibility and will never have any moral responsibility.
MICHAEL: Freedom is the right for you Earth Dwellers to govern, manage, and rule your area of gifting to complete your earthly assignment. There is no freedom without law, and therefore, freedom is always under law.
PRINCE: True freedom does not receive its rights from anyone other than oneself. There is no delegation in freedom, as I see it. True freedom does not require any specific assignment. In true freedom, one is free to use anything in any way he feels he would like to use it and do whatever he would like with all resources he finds available to him, whether the resources belong to him or not. In true freedom, law does not exist, and therefore, one can do and has permission to do what one wants at all times. Could anything be better?
MICHAEL: Ebenezer, true freedom, as I’ve described it, is the only form of freedom that can genuinely satisfy and uplift the soul.
PRINCE: Hmm… true freedom does not seek to satisfy the soul but the flesh, which, as we all know, provides one with the greatest gratification. Sensual gratification, that is.
…
(Pause)
…
Ebenezer: Is that all? Clearly, you are both at odds.
MICHAEL: That is all that needs to be said regarding true freedom as we both see it. And yes, I could have told you that beforehand.
Ebenezer: Thank you. Let’s move on to another term that I have heard used frequently by us humans, or Earth Dwellers as you call us, but I have yet been able to adequately define it or confirm its meaning. By the way, thank you again, Mr. Prince, for responding to these questions, as they were not included on the original list.
PRINCE: Eh.
Ebenezer: Actually, before we get to that four-letter word that I have yet been unable to define, perhaps we could quickly breach the topic of government. Mr. Prince, are you and those who follow you Democrats or Republicans?
PRINCE: Great question. It depends.
Ebenezer: Depends on?
PRINCE: On the policies, of course. Whosever policies more adequately align with freedom as I’ve described it is the party in which my master’s followers and I pledge our allegiance.
Ebenezer: So, if I am understanding correctly, you and your people take your time and evaluate the issues prior to making a decision as to whether you will align yourselves with the Democratic or Republican party?
PRINCE: Yes, that is correct. We aren’t necessarily conservative or progressive in our beliefs, for those, again, can change depending on which of you Earth Dwellers is holding office.
Ebenezer: Interesting. I would have thought otherwise…
PRINCE: You undoubtedly thought wrong, my friend. Are we left, or are we right? It simply just depends.
Ebenezer: Interesting indeed… Michael, do you and your Commander take the same position as it relates to politics?
MICHAEL: What?
Ebenezer: Do you and your Commander tak—
MICHAEL: Yes, my friend. I heard you. But why are you asking me such a question?
Ebenezer: Well, I must say that it is quite an important question to ask, especially during this time. Have you not been permitted to speak on such matters by your Commander?
MICHAEL: My friend, Democrat or Republican does not exist in either my vocabulary or in my Commander’s. Those words ring as words of treason in the Heavenlies. Therefore, I will not, and cannot in good conscience, utter even one word on such a subject.
Ebenezer: Okay… Well, what can you speak on as it relates to politics?
MICHAEL: You mean government.
Ebenezer: Sure.
MICHAEL: My Commander is the Head of State, and as Sovereign Ruler, His word is His law. There is no vote. There is no debate.
Ebenezer: So… Do you lean more
left or more right?
(Silence)
Ebenezer: I guess we’ll just move on. Umm… Now, I would like for both of you to describe the word love as a noun, a verb—however you see it. Mr. Prince, I will allow you the honors…
PRINCE: As you should. And don’t mind him; he’s always been a bit one-sided when it’s come to discussing the satisfying world of politics. Love has as its chief focus the satisfaction of oneself and oneself only. True love carries with it the idea that everything externally has been made available for the pleasure and satisfaction of the individual, regardless of the needs of others.
Ebenezer: Interesting. Michael?
MICHAEL: True, authentic love is simple—it is a radical kindliness for oneself but, at the same time, a radical rejection of oneself in favor of a tenderness toward others.
PRINCE: Does that even make sense? Come on… This isn’t a philosophy class!
Ebenezer: Interesting, Michael. Mr. Prince, let him speak. Can you expand on that a bit more? How is it possible to radically love oneself and, at the same time, radically reject oneself in favor of others, as well?
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