Moved by a desire to change the subject, I asked why
the Solid People, since they were full of love, did not go
down into Hell to rescue the Ghosts. Why were they
content simply to meet them on the plain? One would
have expected a more militant charity.
'Ye will understand that better, perhaps before ye go,'
said he. 'In the meantime, I must tell ye they have come
further for the sake of the Ghosts than ye can understand.
Every one of us lives only to journey further and further
into the mountains. Every one of us has interrupted that
journey and retracted immeasurable distances to come
down today on the mere chance of saving some Ghost.
Of course it is also a joy to do so, but ye cannot blame us
for that! And it would be no use to come further even if it
were possible. The sane would do no good if they made
themselves mad to help madmen.'
'But what of the poor Ghosts who never get into the
omnibus at all?'
'Everyone who wishes it does. Never fear. There are
only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to
God, "Thy will be done," and to those whom God says,
in the end, "Thy will be done." All that are in Hell, choose
it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No
soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever
miss it. Those who seek find. To those who knock it is
opened.'
No comments:
Post a Comment