A young man found himself standing over his body. He had been in an accident, a terrible accident, it seemed. Filled with such grief at the sight, he turned and walked away. As he walked down the road, he noticed a new road before him, and a figure waiting just ahead.

The young man arrived to the figure.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"Your guardian. I am here to show you the other side," the figure replied.

With that statement, a light shone and a door opened. They were faced with two more doors.

Heaven and Hell.

"Which one are we going to? Please tell me it’s Heaven" the young man whispered softly.

The figure’s hand reached for the door to Hell. "I just want to show you something, first."

Together, they entered.

Hell was not at all what the young man had imagined. There were no pits of fire, no horns and pointy tails. The temperature was quite nice. As he peered further down, he noticed a long table, brimming with food.

Men and women, boys and girls sat in these seats. Some were crying out, most were skin and bones. They were yelling at each other, the racket was unbearable. No one was eating the food. Yet, they had forks and knives. Infact, the forks and knives were tied to their hands.

A closer inspection and the young man saw that the forks and knives were actually three feet long. These people could not feed themselves, there was no way they would get the food in their mouths. As they tried to get the food in their mouths, they were elbowing each other and poking each other with their utensils.

"Well no wonder they are all angry. Who did that to them? Is that a fair punishment? To not let them eat?" The young man pelted the figure with his questions.

Quietly, the figure placed his hand on the young man's shoulder, and drew him back out the door.

They were now facing Heaven.

They entered.

It practically looked the same, it felt the same. And there was the table, full of food, the people sitting in the chairs with their knives and folks tied to their wrists. The people, though, were different. They were happy; they were smiling, laughing, healthy looking people.

"I don't understand" the young man was confused.

"Look closer."

The young man did.

These people in Heaven had figured it out. They were feeding each other. Each and every person here was thinking of someone else’s need. And they were all so content with their selfless act, and were being rewarded instantaneously by their neighbour.

"You see," the figure leaned towards the young man, "these people know what love is, in their hearts, and they live it every day. They are rewarded for the goodness they held in their lives on earth."

Again, the figure put his hand on the young man’s shoulder and drew him back out the door. "You do not belong here just yet. I ask you, we all ask you, to share this with those you know, and those you don’t. Make them see how kindness and courtesy is a blessing, and the downfall of the alternative."

As the young man looked at the figure, trying to glimpse his face, he felt the ground give way. He closed his eyes and opened them again. He was in the hospital, surrounded by his family. Smiling softly, he said "I have something to tell you."