Safe Passage (120 hits)
Category: UberMadness! EntryRating: 2 on 1 review (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by awesomeface (View user info) at 2006-10-09 17:18:02 EDT
This post was an official UberMadness! entry. Click here to view the original matchup.
I awoke to the sight of a finely dressed chaplain sitting at the end of my bed. The brown oak leaf on his collar gave off the distinct smell of a Major.
"Hello son." He said nodding.
"Good morning sir." I was able to release from my exhausted lungs.
"How are you today?"
"As good as can be with four holes in my back and a 5.45 round for dessert."
"You have endured a lot lately young man. What is your name?"
"Charlie Donaldson. Everyone calls me Private D."
"Well Charlie, I normally wouldn't visit you since your dog tags say no preference, but that just seems to be the popular thing these days. Would you like to talk to me?"
"Yes sir."
"That's good, what would you like to talk about?" His alleviating voice was a comfort. A comfort I hadn't received in a long while. What came next was a conversation I would remember the rest of my life.
"Well sir, I am a lonely man and I haven't talked to anybody in a few days. I want you to tell me about god."
"Well Charlie, god is everywhere. He is an almighty creator who works for the betterment of mankind. We are his children and he loves all of us. Be good to yourself and others, this will lead to a happy life. That's about all anybody really needs to know about god. Things would be much simpler that way."
"But what about being raised from the dead, splitting the sea, turning water to wine, and all that hocus pocus?" The chaplain smiled at the question and let out a muffled laugh. At the time it almost looked as if I had upset him.
"If the Pope had asked me that, I would respond that god is almighty and can do anything he wants. If he wanted something good to happen then it would happen. Likewise if he wanted something bad to happen then it would happen because god said so. I would say that because it is my job to agree with the Holy Bible and comply with god's awesome power."
"Well since the Pope isn't around, tell me what you think."
"Well since brave Charlie here has asked me, I would tell him to take religion for what it is worth and some guy with a stick can part an entire sea as well as I could. Do not pay attention to the struggles that are involved with religion. No man should wage war in the name of his god or ask for forgiveness when he makes mistakes. We are all humans, not gods. I, as a religious figure tell all those under me to use the message Christianity tells."
"What is that message sir?"
"That message is be nice...be benevolent and you will get what you deserve."
"What about heaven and hell?"
"I would like to believe that there is no hell, but just in case. I have safe passage." The chaplain pointed to the silver cross on his collar. The chaplain let out a smile and I laughed with him.
"Well sir since you gave me a lesson in religion today can I tell you something about common sense?"
"Go ahead Charlie, I'm here to listen."
"You spoke of "safe passage" and if there is anything I have learned in my 20 years of existence, it's that nothing is guaranteed, nowhere is safe but there are safer places. I live my life everyday thinking that I may end up in hell for the things I have done. But let's say I led my life like you and I lived by the cross. I know just as well as you if God exist or not. So I guess in the end, nobody can provide safe passage to heaven. Not even god."
"You are a smart kid Charlie, but what you fail to realize is that there is only one difference between our philosophies. I wear a cross and you don't. I have done all I can for you, so I must take my leave." The chaplain stood from his chair and rested his hand on the door knob.
"Sir...safe passage...in all your travels."
"You too son." The door shut and once again I was surrounded by silence. That day I had a blessing from a good man. He hoped that I would be ok, and so did I.
That...not even god could give.
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Submitted by TheUniter (user info) at 2007-06-05 12:33:01 EDT (#)
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