Not Playing This Game
I have told this story quite a few times on various teachings, but someone recently typed it up from the Transition series and sent me a copy. I have never seen it in print. It is not original to me, and if I knew who came up with this joke, I’d sure give them credit. But it makes a wonderful point nonetheless…
A member of the clergy arrives in heaven and is greeted at the gate by Peter, Jesus’ disciple. “Well hi, how are you?”
“Fine,” the man answered. “Do I just walk in?”
“That depends,” Peter answered. “How many points you got?”
“Points? What points?”
“You know, points for doing good things.”
The man didn’t look too concerned. “I’ve done a lot of good things,” the man answered.
“So, how many points do you have?”
“I have no idea. How many points do I need?”
“You need one hundred points to get in,” Peter answers.
“One hundred points? Is that all? That shouldn’t be too tough. I worked at the soup kitchen for 20 years will that…?”
“Certainly. I can give you a point for that.” Peter answered.
“A point for each time?” the man asked hopeful.
“No, a point for the whole thing.” Peter seemed a bit preturbed.
“Only a point?” The man was shocked. “Well, I was a pastor for 40 years.”
“Hmmm,” Peter thought a moment. “I guess I can give you a point for that too.
The man was dumbfounded. How could he possibly get enough points at this rate? While he was thinking of enough ways to get points, a businessman that he knew while on earth walked by, waving at Peter. “Hi, Pete. How are you doing?”
Peter waved back with a smile. “I’m doing great. Enjoy yourself.” And with that the man just walked through the gates.
The cleric looked confused and turned to Peter. “You mean that guy has a hundred points?”
“That guy?” Peter asked pointing over his shoulder. “He’s not playing this game.”
