“And he said unto them… “If a man told God that he wanted most of all to help the
suffering world, no matter the price to himself, and God
answered and told him what he must do, should the man
do as he is told?” “Of course, Master!” cried the many.
“It should be pleasure for him to suffer the tortures of
hell itself, should God ask it!” “No matter what those tortures, nor how difficult the task?” “Honor to be hanged, glory to be nailed to a tree and burned,
if so be that God has asked,” said they. “And what would you do,” the Master said unto the
multitude, “if God spoke directly to your face and said… ‘I command that you be happy in the world, as long
as you live.’ What would you do then?” And the multitude was silent, not a voice, not a sound
was heard upon the hillsides, across the valleys
where they stood.”
Illusions by Richard Bach
Notes