I'm reading Cornel West's memoir Brother West. I enjoyed this story from his childhood:
Though I had accepted Jesus into my heart, it was not my nature to dwell on literal notions of heaven and hell. In fact, when my Sunday School teacher, the wonderous Mrs. Sarah Ray, posed the question, "If there is only one place left in heaven, would you take it?" my answer was, "No."
"Why in heavens not?" asked Mrs. Ray.
"Because I'd have to do the Christian thing, and the Christian theing would be to let someone else pass into heaven first."
Mrs. Ray was amazed. "And you'd choose to fall into hell, Cornel?"
I just assumed that Jesus has promised to be with me even until the end of the world. So I just stand on his promise. I have always believed that ours is in the trying; the rest is not our business.
