FI in the Sky

So the unfathomable tragedy came to pass that three unlucky middle-aged figures stumbled towards the pearly gaits to the entrance of heaven at the same time.

The first was a haggard individual stooped over an old cane made of wood.  He looked far more aged than his forty-five years on earth.  His clothes were worn with several holes in his mud caked jeans.  His shoes had lost all form and appeared more like random swaths of cloth slapped together by a few measly strands of twine.  His body was thin with a protruding belly.  He was malnourished and bedraggled, but strode up to Saint Peter with a mix of humility and pride.  He hadn’t survived on the street all these decades for nothing.

Saint Peter looked down lovingly from his podium and opened his arms as if ready to embrace the poor soul.  His voice was like honey, soft and kind.

St. Peter: Welcome Timothy, son of g-d, what was your purpose down there on earth.

Timothy: Pardon me sir, but my purpose was meek for I was a homeless man devoid of riches or shelter.  I lived on the street faithfully, begging for all that would sustain me.  I neither created nor built, but I was friendly and gentle.  I supported my fellow-man in need, and was never driven to break a law or trespass.  I might not have amounted to much, but I lived purely.

St. Peter: Timothy, welcome to the kingdom of heaven.  As you say, you heart was kind and your spirit true.  Here you will find that you shall never want for food or sustenance.  You will be adorned with the finest cloth.  You will have no use for money because all your needs will be provided for.

As the last words came from the great Saint’s mouth, The gates swung open and Timothy joyously leaped through.

Next Stephan confidently ambled to the front of the line.  He wore a well-tailored suit that hugged his muscular physique perfectly.  A briefcase swung from his well manicured right hand.  His face was tan and not a single strand  of hair was out-of-place on his amply endowed head.

Saint Peter looked down lovingly from his podium and opened his arms as if ready to embrace the confident soul.  His voice was like honey, soft and kind.

St. Peter: Welcome Stephan, son of g-d, what was your purpose down there on earth.

Stephan: I was a titan of Wall street.  I made more money than I could ever have dreamed of.  Although I never had much time to enjoy it, I provided amply for my wife and daughter.  My stress levels were quite high, but at no time did it turn me into a liar or cheat.  There were many I enriched with my hard work, many a charity that was fully funded by my firm.

St. Peter: Stephan, welcome to the kingdom of heaven.  As you say, you heart was kind and your spirit true.  Here you will find that you shall never have to be a slave to money again.  You will have all the riches you enjoyed on earth, but you will be allowed to work on only that which brings you joy.  In fact, you don’t have to worry about working again if you don’t want to.  You will have infinite choice in how to spend your days.

As the last words came from the great Saint’s mouth, The gates swung open and Stephan  joyously leaped through.

Finally it was Sarah’s time in front of the podium.  She wore a T-shirt and jeans and looked as if she was in no particular hurry.  She had neither the signs of material deprivation of Timothy or the distressed  countenance of Stephan.

Saint Peter looked down lovingly from his podium and opened his arms as if ready to embrace this nonchalant soul.  His voice was like honey, soft and kind.

St. Peter: Welcome Sarah, Daughter of g-d, what was your purpose down there on earth.

Sarah: I  was a daughter, and sister, and wife.  I was a writer of a blog and a creator of community.  I also liked to teach Yoga on the weekends.  I retired from my corporate Job at the age of thirty-five after studying such luminaries as Mr. Money Mustache, JL Collins, and Jack Bogle.  My quick journey to financial independence allowed me to  travel the world and I experienced different cultures.  I slept late on Mondays and drank coffee at midnight on Tuesdays.  I’ve had a full life.

Now Saint Peter was a little perplexed by this.  He couldn’t figure if Sarah was poor and jobless like Timothy, or overworked and stressed like Stephan.  He figured a little of both.

St. Peter: Sarah, welcome to the kingdom of heaven.  As you say, you heart was kind and your spirit true.  Here you will find that you shall never want for food or sustenance.  You will be adorned with the finest cloth.  You will have no use for money because all your needs will be provided for .  You will be allowed to work on only that which causes you joy.  In fact, you never have to worry about working again if you don’t want to.  You will have infinite choice in how to spend your days.

At this Sarah’s face lit up and she stared at Saint Peter sheepishly.

Sarah: What?  What is that you say? You’re sending me back to earth?