Heaven and Hell - A story about friendship
How to distinguish them?
A man was walking along the road with his horse and his dog. When they were passing by a big old tree a lightning came down and hit the tree killing all of them.
Not knowing they were already dead they continued to walk together as nothing as happened. Some times there are dead people who do not realize they are already gone...
After a couple of hours walking up and down the hills on this very bright and hot sunny day they were starting to feel thirst and needing to rest their legs underneath any shadow they could find.
After a while they saw this magnificent
gate all made with marble which opened to a bright path made from
golden bricks.There were lots of shadows inside the gardens.
There was also a lovely fountain with crystalline water and the man didn`t need to think twice before heading to the guard who was warding the gate.
-- Good morning - he said.
-- Good morning – replied the guard.
-- This is such a beautiful place. Where are we?
-- This is Heaven.
-- Oh, I am so glad we got here, we are so thirsty after walking under the sun for several hours and we would be very thankful if you let us rest and drink some water.
-- You can enter and drink as much water as you want but your animals have to stay out.
And the guard pointed to the fountain.
-- But my horse and my dog are thirsty too and they need to drink some water.
-- I am so sorry but we do not allow animals to enter here.
True Friendship
As this straightforward, genial tale begins, Hedgehog discovers Mouse covering himself with leaves, trying to hide from their friend Snake. Why? Fox told Skunk and Skunk told me that snakes are very dangerous to mice, Mouse explains. Although Hedgehog dismisses the news as silly gossip, Mouse continues to worry and, distracted, stumbles into a deep, narrow hole...
Tough decisions... (or maybe not)
The thirsty man became very sad but he didn`t want to drink alone so he thanked the guard and move on with his horse and his dog.
They were walking again for a long time and almost losing faith of finding another spot where they could drink some water when they arrived to a place where there was an old gate which opened to a passage between big old trees. Below one of those trees there was a man resting on the ground probably sleeping.
-- Hi there – said the man.
The dormant man did not even opened his eyes but he slightly moved his head.
-- We are all very thirsty, me, my
horse and my dog. Do you know where can we find some fresh water?
-- You will find a natural spring on those rocks over there – said the man pointing out to some stones in front of them.
-- You can drink as much as you need – he said to the man.
The man and his two animal friends went to the rocks and drank all the water they wanted.
After a while they went to thank the man.
-- Thank you very much. Can you tell me where we are?
-- This is Heaven.
-- Heaven? Are you sure? You must be wrong... the guard who was in front of the marble gate told me that place was Heaven!
-- No, that place ain´t Heaven. That place it is Hell.
What!?
The man could not believe what he was hearing.
-- You should avoid this situation! That false information can cause lots of confusions and problems to people.
The man smiled:
-- Not at all. In fact they are making us a big favor because this way they keep all of those who are willing to abandone their friends away from Heaven...
Comments
AUTHORGood friends never leave... and your second comment on this hub confirms it :)
Sending a Big hug to you my dear friend ;)
A nice re-minder my dear Man...very well timed...:O) Husg G-Ma
- AUTHOR
Wow Ricky Dee, more than a fan - I consider you already as a good friend ;)
I´m glad you enjoy the story. And it´s always nice to find fellow riders, you must visit Tom Rubenoff`s profile (I bet you will also like his hubs).
Yo Funride. God bless you Dude. This is a very good story. I'm 60 years old and have been a cyclist for about 40 years. I'm mostly road but I did spend 60 bucks at Wolfe Laurel in Western NC, took second in my age, and a won case of pepsis- about a hundred years ago now I think. I refrained from reading "how to assemble a mountain bike" that you wrote. I have a similar story in my archives not published yet. I didn't want to plagiarizer your work. I'll be reading your stuff. It's great. It's nice seeing another cyclist. Consider me a fan!
Great story.
What a great story, I am def. passing this along to my friends.
don
I loved this hub!!! what a read!!
mdawson17
who knows!
Thanks, see you around
- AUTHOR
Hi Cláudia, glad you like it ;)
I´m sorry to hear about your animal friends, I can only imagine how you feel... who knows, maybe someday you´ll be able to get your horse back - I´m sure she´ll remember you and be your friend forever :)
Reading this we really feel in heaven. Your energy is so softly nice. It is a year now that I had to sell my horse Alfama (it is a lady) and to offer all the other animals to a pedagogical farm (I could send them but I had no courage. I had sold the horse because I needed the money). I felt I was selling myself. Now I lost my last animal, my cat, because oddly she was attacking us and everybody that surronded specialy me. The veterinarian said she had to die because something strange and out of control was happening to her. As you see I had to get rid of all my lovely animals - they were my best friends, not because they had died, not because of natural reasons. It hearts the universe. However, I tried to do what was better for them. I miss them everyday. I cry my loss and my cat's situation hearts me even more because somehow I know she was always protecting me, we had a special relation. My horse was sold again to a farm in Netherlands, that far away. The other animals receive daily visits from children.
Is is very sad when we have to let go what we love.
very nice story good hub again.
How are you funride long time no visit to my hub..Thanks
Wow, that sounds beautiful funride. I truly would want to meet you someday. Daisy and I will look forward to that! And then we'd get to meet your family as well. :-)
- AUTHOR
Thanks FD, I´m glad you liked it ;)
Great lesson about friendship Funride.
Nicely hubbed :)
- AUTHOR
Hey Michelle, I knew you would love it ;)
Real friends are never left behind, this last week I finally got to meet a great friend from the States. I met Eric through Myspace more than a year ago and now that he and his wife came to Portugal we could hangout together and get to know each other well. We found out we are soul mates and we share so many things, it was like we knew each other forever (I´m sure it will be like that with you when we meet). Real friends can be apart from each other but they aren´t left behind no matter what.
Hi funride, thumbs up for this wonderful inspirational story about friendship. I still remember Stich in Lilo and Stitch saying "Ohana...and Ohana means family and family means noboby gets left behind." And that goes for friends both human and animal friends too :-) Love and light!
- AUTHOR
Hey CC, glad you like it ;)
We really need them, don´t we?
Great little read funride. I believe heaven does have beasts of all kinds. I don't want to go if it doesn't, they sure make my life here heaven.
- AUTHOR
You´re right Marisue, all cats are great friends if we love them ;)
Hey JamaGenee, thanks for sharing such a nice thought - having our beloved animal friends waiting for us there :)
What a neat lesson in friendship! Personally, it'll be easy for me to know which gate leads to heaven because my beloved cat (R.I.P) will be right there waiting for me. Guessing Marisue's will be waiting for *her* too!
When we get to Okla, the purfect kitty is on my list!!! and any kitty is perfect...=))
- AUTHOR
Thanks Correen, I´m glad you liked it :)
Hey Marisue, I´m sure you would never leave your friends no matter who they are and I´m sorry to hear about your cat... maybe it´s time for you to find a new feline friend ;)
A great story of heaven and hell, topics my life is very familiar with...I loved this message!! and by the way, my horse and my dog would have been by my side as well...where I go, they go. If I had a horse, of course. The dog already knows he's boss. =))
I miss my cat who died in December, and your video spoke to my heart!!!
Great story for all of us to ponder...the video was fantastic!
- AUTHOR
Hey Rick, I´m glad you like it. But I´m not Tom though :p
Take care and don´t forget to cherish your friends ;)
Really enjoyed this one Tom. Really says a lot about friends.
- AUTHOR
Hi Tom, glad you like it. Some times things are not just as we imagined them - Heaven doesn´t have to be the most beautiful or pleasant place ;)
This was awesome! The true heaven revealed. Thank you! :)
- AUTHOR
Wow, thank you all for such nice and praising comments.
Last weekend I went for a big mountain bike crossing (190km) with 20 friends of mine. And every time we waited for those who were slower I remembered this story. Never leave your friends behind ;)
Dear Funride I just loved reading this.It is magic to the soul,reflecting the beautiful person who wrote it
Funride I enjoyed this hub! It was oretty cool one! I will be reading more.
Wow! Good story it certainly does make a person think!!!
Although I kind of agree with Hchogan and that brings a possible conundrum would I make the wrong choice? I am neither a cat person or a dog person but I do like the wild creatures. If I had to rethink this story I probably would think that the dog and the horse represent family members who are difficult at times but it wouldn't be cool to leave them.
Very interesting Hub!
- AUTHOR
Hey Tony, thank you for passing by and commenting. Friends are an important part of our lives and the true ones are there when we need them ;)
Great story, and nicely put together. I think friends are very important, even our animal friends.
- AUTHOR
Thank you all for commenting :)
I´m glad everybody enjoyed it.
@hchogan - I can understand what you´re saying but remember that this same story can be interpreted as the animals being our friends so you can always read it as they were your human friends, the meaning it´s the same ;)
Nice story and video!
Soooooo sweet ;)
Thank You! Big Hug!
;-)
I tried to relate, but can't. In all honesty I would have drank alone. I am not an animal lover,never have been and never will. I love my children unconditionally and with all my heart, but dogs? They kind of bug. Nice story!
Beautiful story!
We rescued a dog a couple of months ago and he is a best friend now, I'll have to remember this story when he is driving me mad, which he can do as well. But he is a dog so when he drives me mad then there is a fair chance it's my fault.
- AUTHOR
Hey everybody, after a day riding with my better half and a evening with family and friends it´s very nice to read all your comments and feel your friendship. This story was based on a tale I read somewhere and thought it was nice way to celebrate my friendship with all of you fellow Hubbers :)
I´m glad it also provided inspiration for some of you to solidify your friendship with your animals/friends ;)
Your story put a big smile on my face, until I realized I'd been neglecting my poor patient dog for most of the day while I worked on some writing projects and surfed HP. So, I'm getting up right now to take doggie for a walk. If I hadn't read your story, she'd probably have waited patiently for me until midnight or something. Terrible way for me to treat a friend! I must have been on hell's doorstep for most of the day. Thumbs up.
Hey Ricardo, nice story !
Good one. A short story with big message. You can never call one a friend if he/she just leaves you in the middle of nowhere and that too when you needed him/her the most. You have shared a very good message. Thank you.
Beautiful story, it really touched my heart. Thank you funride.
That was great - I got notification of your hub at the precise moment that I needed a friend an hour or so ago - Liverpool had just beaten Manchester (my team) 4 - 1
Boy was I feeling pissed - I've got 2 dogs sitting here with me. In fact they watched the match with me - but as I only cheered once they slept most of the time.
Once the match was over, I looked at my lovely canine friends - seeking a hug or a lick. I said "We lost" - well, big dog got excited, from my two forlorn words he had extrapolated - "we're going for a wee-wee walk" - and he went ape-shit, he grabbed his lead and swung it about just so that I would not forget what I had apparently said. Little dog rolled onto her back, spread her legs and broke wind - long, slow and particuarly pungent.
My world has found it's equilibrium again thanks to my doggie friends. Guess a walk is in order. Liverpool ! grrrrrrrrrrrr ...........
seriously - a great story and a lovely warm hearted hub all in all. Loved the video.
Oh GT you talk tough....:O)
damnit funride, now you got me in the mood to take my beasts for a walk. they annoy the hell out of me and I threaten everyone with a trip to the pound, but they know how to play me and get me to do what they want.
good story, never leave your amigos alone at the bar.
Awww...you are just a little pussy cat yourself...that was adorable and a nice thing to see first thing this morning...loved the video and your story too...wasn't aware you were also a story writer...and is "so sweet to be loved by you" haven't heard that song in a while...Hope all is well my dear Always...G-Ma :O) Hugs & Peace
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