Heaven, Hell, and a Bowl of Stew

One day a holy man was having a conversation with God and said, ' God, I’d like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.'

God led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table, on which there was a large pot of the most delicious smelling stew placed in the middle, which made the holy man's mouth water.

The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly, and they appeared to be famished. Strapped to their arms were spoons with very long handles, and although the people found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, because the handle was longer than their arms, they couldn’t get the food into their mouths.

When the holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering, God said to him, 'You have seen Hell.'

Coming out of the room God then took the holy man through the other door. The man was surprised to see that it was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here they were well nourished, laughing and talking. The holy man turned to God and said, 'I don't understand.'

It’s simple,' said God. 'There’s just one important difference. These people have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves.