{"id":590,"date":"2004-02-01T22:18:00","date_gmt":"2004-02-01T22:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adrianwarnock.com\/2004\/02\/a-wasted-life\/"},"modified":"2004-02-01T22:18:00","modified_gmt":"2004-02-01T22:18:00","slug":"wasted-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/adrianwarnock\/2004\/02\/wasted-life\/","title":{"rendered":"A wasted life?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Thanks to Correction<\/a> for this:<\/p>\n

\u201cA Parable
\n
When the baby died, the angels carried him up to Heaven and rested him gently on a cloud. A man was there, also new, and they decided to tour Heaven together. \u2018Tell me about yourself,\u2019 said the baby, trying to put the man at ease.
\n
\u2018I was old. I died in my sleep. I had a long life, so I can\u2019t complain.\u2019 The man looked at the little baby before him. \u2018You, though. How could God let you die so young? It\u2019s cruel. It\u2019s unfair.\u2019
\n
The baby just shrugged. They walked on. As the man walked, he grew angrier and angrier at God. \u2018How could God bless me with such a long life, and give this little one nothing? What did I do to deserve so much and him to deserve so little? How could God be so unfair? When I see God, I\u2019m going to demand that he explain himself.\u2019
\n
They continued walking, and finally they spotted God, who was taking a walk. Despite his anger, the man prostrated himself before God. The baby smiled and wiggled his toes. God welcomed them both.
\n
\u2018I don\u2019t want to question you, Lord, but something\u2019s bothering me,\u2019 said the man. \u2018I lived a long life. I had so many years, had so much happiness. Why did you deny this little baby such a life?\u2019
\n
God looked at the man with kindness. \u2018Your pity is misplaced,\u2019 he finally said. \u2018It is not this child who deserves pity. Ask him about his life; get to know him. Then you will understand.\u2019 Then, embracing both of them, he walked away.
\n
The man was stunned. \u2018What on earth did that mean?\u2019 The baby only shrugged. Exasperated, the man said, \u2018Tell me about your life, then.\u2019
\n
The baby grinned. \u2018Oh, it was wonderful there. Always warm. Everyone was so gentle, so kind. Everyone loved me. Whenever I was hungry, they fed me. When I was dirty, they cleaned me with warm water and soft touches. When I was lonely I had\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Thanks to Correction for this: \u201cA Parable When the baby died, the angels carried him up to Heaven and rested him gently on a cloud. A man was there, also new, and they decided to tour Heaven together. \u2018Tell me about yourself,\u2019 said the baby, trying to put the man at ease. \u2018I was old. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1268,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[86],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-590","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-misc"],"yoast_head":"\nA wasted life?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Thanks to Correction for this: "A Parable When the baby died, the angels carried him up to Heaven and rested him gently on a cloud. 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