NEGOTIATING HELL: a sequel to CS Lewis' "Screwtape Letters." Ch 20: Is God our Vending machine?
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Mary exited the elevator to heaven. She pulled in a breath of beauty. Today was exhausting yet discernment filled. Mary appreciated heaven’s fresh colors, summer smells and intelligent intellects. As she relived today’s events, Tech approached. He recognized her messy, emotional state. He hugged her respectfully as Mary vented. Tech asked if she would be willing to visit with their Dad? His Omniscience would love to be One with her concerns. He offered to escort her.
Why wouldn’t souls want this? As they strolled, she marveled at the paralyzing perfection everywhere. She paused, noticing a new kind of rose and aroma. She was mildly surprised to see no thorns. Then she smiled, “of course there aren’t thorns, it’s heaven.” She was barely listening to Tech, as he made small talk along the way.
“You haven’t heard a single word I’ve said,” observed Tech, his smile virtuous.
“Sorry?” said Mary, realizing he was talking to her.
“You heard me,” soothed Tech. “Souls get caught in their surroundings, when they first arrive.”
“I can see why,” replied Mary. “I never imagined this. I underestimated God and His splendor.”
“Every soul does,” Tech shrugged. “BTW, here's the activity schedule for tonight. You might be interested in things.”
“Like what?” asked Mary, still awed in gratitude. She took his schedule of events.
Tech reviewed, “St Matthew is planning a card tournament this weekend. He’s taking suggestions on games to play.
“Euchre? You know how to play Euchre?” asked Mary, surprised.
“Yes, Sera taught us,” replied Tech. “I know it’s a Mid-West game, but I enjoy partnering with the patron saint of playing cards, St Balthasar from the East. He’s the Magi astrophysicist. He can read matter, for that matter, and visages for energy bursts, peaks and troughs. He counts everyone’s cards. You must join us, when you’re finished. “Well, here we are,” said Tech, as they arrived at God’s office. “Welcome home, he smiled.” He hugged and waved as Mary entered God’s office.
As she approached, the Silhouette-shaded Sera led her to God, as He waited for her. While not her first time, she reveled in his veiled presence and peace! She removed her shoes and knelt.
“My sweet little Mary!” He held her hands to help her stand. May we talk on the patio? I AM more comfortable there,” mused God. He opened the patio door for Mary. She followed Him immediately.
“Why open your own doors?" Mary asked curiously. "Don’t they open automatically?”
“Miss Mary,” observed God, “I am hardly an invalid.” As they sat together, Mary marveled at His stunning view. “You like creation,” asked God. It was a statement, not a question. “I like it too. I cannot create bad things; my resources and talents are for love only.”
Mary’s thoughts raced. Most of her years involved low self-esteem. Then she remembered the world’s ugliness and atrocities committed in His name.
“I don’t like it either,” God said, reading her mind. “Does it all surprise you?”
“IDK … why permit so much ugliness?” asked Mary, hesitantly. She had already angered Satan today. In her present situation, she could ill-afford to anger Dad.
He dodged her question. “It’s crazy, everything I can do out of love,” observed God. “I crack myself up, sometimes.” God was excited and loved creating. “I author beauty, I bestow happiness, enable fun. But the best gift of all,” God continued, “is free will.”
“Why give us the power and ability to screw up Your beautiful works?” queried Mary, confused.
God paused. “I don’t want or need machines or robots. Have you seen, The Stepford Wives? Who wants to be told what to do, constantly?”
“Pretty much no one,” said Mary in agreement.
“How would you discern if I were to tell you how to live or what to do? How would you learn from mistakes? How would you grow in degrees-of-holiness? How would you become a great saint?” asked God.
Mary was unsure of what to say. Then, she considered the horrible things people did to others -- the cruelty, the hatred and so much more.
God read her mind, “you want to know why I allow people to hurt others.”
“Yes” said Mary, a little bit braver. “Some people refuse to believe in a God that allows child molestation, starvation, abortion, cancer …” as her voice trailed away.
“Yes,” said God, “I know, everything is all My fault, I hear it all the time. It’s easier to blame Me than take responsibility, to step up and fix it. This was not the original plan, it was the fall that changed things. Now, everything is a test of holiness. The goal is for humans to stand together to fix problems, draw boundaries and to live by the commandments and beatitudes. Imagine your world, if all neighbors were loved?”
The waves lapped the beach.
“Souls crave more than mediocrity,” said God, “and with Me, everything is possible.”
“I’m sorry, but the child molesters,” said Mary, “that’s the worst.”
“Yes,” said God. “It angers me, but I send angels to assist the children. During suffering, they see apparitions and early beatific vision -- if called home. Moreover, there is a specific place in hell for perverted souls. It’s so awful, even Satan won’t go there!”
Mary sat quietly. After meeting Satan, she thought he would revel in such evil. God continued, “Even Satan views child molesters as the lowest form.”
“Does that mean Satan has redeeming qualities?” asked Mary.
“No,” God stressed. “Satan has no redeeming qualities. He delegates the vilest of tasks but is still guilty vicariously. He and Moloch have child abusers convinced that my littlest ones are the source of adrenochrome.”
“Adrenochrome? I’m a business major, remember?” Mary knew God knew this.
“It’s an adrenaline derivative, the drug of choice for global elites craving immortality. It's from pediatric blood. The refined drug is extracted from the pituitary gland of live, tortured children and immediately consumed or sold on the black market. Tissue ingestion is common too. Allegedly, it is more potent if the cells are ingested living. Hollywood discusses its benefits in contemporary movies and books. They aren't even hiding it."
Mary shuddered, as her face grew whiter. God continued, “four things. First, ingesting live tissue or blood to obtain immortality is irrational. I designed stomach acid to befit a specific environment, to disrupt cell membranes which initiates the digestion process.
You must pray for their souls' conversions. They are my children, created in my image and likeness. Like the good thief on the cross, it is not too late." God saw Mary's discomfort, “I’m sorry, if this is too much for you. Yet, since your visits started, Satan has been on his best behavior and distracted. Perhaps you see firsthand, how he hides his true self. He is entertaining, but he cannot be fully loosed. He must always be kept in check.”
"If they asked sincerely, You would forgive them?" God nodded. This was a lot. “How do You check Satan?” asked Mary, changing the subject.
God replied, “Many ways. This is partly why you’re there. Weekly calls help too. He fancies himself as the great manipulator. His vanity makes him forgetful. It’s comical. But I see how you are all over that. Nice job with the mirrors!”
Mary smiled weakly. She was glad there was no lemonade today. She did not want to toss in God’s office.
God looked at Mary, “this is enough for today. There is more that you will come to understand. It takes time, but it will come,” Mary nodded. She hoped she would learn soon. “Remember Jesus in the Garden of Olives? He knew everything at once—the sins of humanity, the punishment, it was the only way to undo the fall and overcome death. This omniscience led Him to hematidrose or sweat blood. His blood pressure spiked to at least 500/250 in the agony. He did it all for love, plus He forgave.”
She didn’t know what to say.
“It’s been a long day for you, and you’ve discerned much. There is more coming your way tomorrow. Will you come and tell me how it’s going, everyday?” God requested. She nodded her fiat. They headed inside.
God blessed her forehead and waved goodbye. “My sweet Mary, just a heads up. Not all fallen angels in hell, read.”
Hmmm, Mary thought again. In church and Catechism books, she never saw fallen angels with books. What adventure did God have in store for her now? Wait a minute. How could she complete an assignment where parties must read and sign a written contract?
She zoomed out. Today, she learned to give over control. By allowing the Holy Spirit — in His perfect timing — to manage the minion’s furniture delivery, she witnessed gratitude in condemned beings. Well, in all except Satan. It was best to follow God’s lead. He knew exactly what He was doing. He knew how much she could handle at any given moment. While respecting her free will, God controlled every dial of every situation. He moved dials up or down. Or sideways when she needed time-outs. Her best move was to lie low while working in hell's kitchen and let the Divine chef cook ...
<See below links to start at the beginning or for Chapter 18: “Same evening, different place or the mindless are meeting” >
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 2: Jerking Satan’s Chain & the burning laptop
Chapter 3: “Hmm …. I guess I read that wrong”
Chapter 4: The devil is in the details
Chapter 5: And what was it they wanted to organize?
Chapter 6: Nothing is ever good enough
Chapter 7: What could be worse?
Chapter 9: It’s all in the sales pitch
Chapter 11: Just the first day
Chapter 12: Let’s get comfortable
Chapter 14: The 2nd day & who is messing with whom?
Chapter 15: The meeting of the minds—to waste
Chapter 16: The minions in the Caucus Room
Chapter 17: Stop & smell the roses
Chapter 18: Same evening, different place or the mindless are meeting
Chapter 19: Paper, Rock or Scissors
Chapter 20: My issues are stupider than yours!
Chapter 21: You have the right to remain silent
Chapter 22: Let the stupidity begin
Chapter 23: When in hell, it doesn’t matter what day it is
Chapter 24: Insolence at its finest
Chapter 25: Striking for the hell of it
Chapter 26: The signing ceremony
Chapter 27: Mary’s contingency is fulfilled
Science cannot explain suffering. As Lay Passionist and nurse, she challenges modern health care assumptions; contraception, abortion, euthanasia, herd immunity and more. Behind every health dilemma, God asks us to abide in Him. Author of 7 books & >20 peer-reviewed nursing journal articles; she also writes as "The Catholic Nurse" on Substack, see "Archives." She is a veteran of the Army Nurse Corps. Her primary charism is mercy through which she explores redemptive suffering, spiritual healing and the joy of bringing of souls to God.
