Dear “Skala Times” Readers, my editorial is usually written in Greek but for today you will allow me to make an exception.
One of my best friends in the whole world is Adriana Costa.
You can assume that she might be Greek cause of the name but she is Brazilian. We met when we were studying in London and we became best friends immediately.
Adriana will give birth soon and I was looking for a story to dedicate to her.
I found the story below written by a man who also comes from Brazil, Paolo Coelho.
(My dearest amiga sista Adriana, in a world that real friends is a rare thing, thank God for having you).
So here is the story with a really good message:
‘Why is it that some people can resolve the most complicated problems really easily, whilst others agonize over every tiny crisis and end up drowning in a glass of water?’ I asked.
Ramesh replied by telling the following story:
‘Once upon a time, there was a man who had been the soul of kindness all his life.
When he died, everyone assumed that he would go straight to Heaven, for the only possible place for a good man like him was Paradise.
The man wasn’t particularly bothered about going to Heaven, but that was where he went.
Now in those days, service in heaven was not all that it might be.
The reception desk was extremely inefficient, and the girl who received him gave only a cursory glance through the index cards before her and when she couldn’t find the man’s name, she sent him straight to Hell.
And in Hell no one asks to check your badge or your invitation, for anyone who turns up is invited in. The man entered and stayed.
Some days later, Lucifer stormed up to the gates of Heaven to demand an explanation from St Peter.
“What you’re doing is pure terrorism!” he said. “You sent that man down into Hell, and he’s completely 
undermining me! Right from the start, there he was listening to people, looking them in the eye, talking to them.
“And now everyone’s sharing their feelings and hugging and kissing. That’s not the sort of thing I want in Hell! Please, let him into Heaven!’
When Ramesh had finished telling the story, he looked at me fondly and said:
‘Live your life with so much love in your heart that if, by mistake, you were sent to Hell, the Devil himself would deliver you up to Paradise.’
