Do It From Hell Part 4

“I do think that Dr. John here, or Jonnie, has a problem with free will,” Mars said. “Free will means doing what he wants other people to do, to him. Am I right, Jonnie?”

“That is Dr. John to you, and no, it isn’t true. I just don’t think people should have the right to do stupid shit and destroy other people by blaming it on free will. There has to be some rules that are enforced to keep people safe.”

“And who will create these 'rules?'” Uriel asked.

“You were supposed to create and enforce them. But where were you? Where were you when all of these wars were starting?

“We were defending the right for them to start,” Carrie said.

“What a great deal of help you have been. It would be better if you just left us alone.”

“We did,” she said. “When you were celebrating the new millennium we left the governance of the planet to human leaders. We withdrew. All debts from humans to us were paid. The violent and peaceful races all pulled out. Instead of celebrating you humans became more brutal than we could have ever been and more vampiric than what you experienced briefly in Hell. So don’t be blaming what you have been going through on aliens, or gods, or devils, or demons. It is all caused by human beings.”

“Not likely. Some of you are still probably sneaking around and controlling things.”

“The only way we can do that is by entering into the flesh and becoming fully human. That means forgetting who we are and giving up our power. That is what some have done, but they are not aliens now they are fully human, just like the humans that have betrayed the human family millenia after millenia.” Mars stood and walked over to the snack table.

“This argument is old news,” he said, pouring himself a cup of coffee. “You are human. Now it is up to you. What do you want to do?” I sat and thought about it.

“I have to get power either as an activist or politician, or something. Maybe a religious figure.”

“That’s over with,” Carrie said. “I mean a religious figure. They have been proven to be hypocrites a long time ago.

“But if I am a real one doing miracles and things, maybe a small group will listen. You can help me there, can’t you?” They began to look at each other in silence. Carrie turned back to me.

“You are treading on dangerous ground. The stupid can take any religion you create and within a couple of years they can turn it into a powerful force for destruction.”

“Well tell me what to do, Carrie.” Mars cut in.

“You’ll do the only helpful thing. You are a watcher in the flesh. Watch, see the dynamics, learn the truth, and share it with us and those who can hear you. That is all you can do. The time for the other things have passed. The only thing that will help is for people to be set free.”

“You are like a fish living in a pond,” Urial added. “The water is so tainted that the only thing that can be done is to learn to breathe Oxygen and get out of the pool, or at least, like a whale, rise up out of the water, take a deep clean breath, and then hold your breath and go back under. You have to learn how to do that and teach others how to. In the meantime, we will let you know what is happening.”

“A blow by blow description of how your world will destroy itself,” Mars said. “We’ll be with you guiding you all along the way and it will be fun.”

“Fun?”

“When you see it from a higher view, it all becomes a dance. Your task is to stay awake and always see it that way because that is the way the universe really is.” I looked off into the distance. It sounded crazy, but doable. Could I watch poverty, hate, starvation and suffering and maintain a higher state? Can anyone do that?

"I have heard of great sages and enlightened beings who were able to do that, but could I be like that?”

I looked at Carrie and she genuinely smiled for the first time during our several meetings. “You can choose being awake because you have already suffered Hell and have arisen. All that is necessary is for you to say yes and we will help you all along the way.” I looked at Urial and Mars. They both nodded. I made the decision.

“I will say yes,” I said. “If I had to do it from Hell why not do it from heaven. In a flash things had changed. I can’t say what was different, but something had changed. The insistent crease in my forehead seemed to smooth out and I seemed a little happy. That was amazing. I hadn’t been happy since the last war started.

“Now we begin,” Carrie said. “Take a broom with you and start sweeping the streets. When people begin to join you and rebuild the physical plant, you can help them rebuild the emotional landscape and have the desire to live again. They won’t be able to see us or hear us and you may not at times, but we promise you that we will be there. We are your family.

***

It took me a few days, but I adjusted to this crazy idea. First I got a part time job doing counseling again. As I went to and from that part time job I noticed many people struggling. On my days off I just became a helper. There was an old man and family struggling with a house that was just about destroyed by the constant bombing that had shaken it to its foundations. I got an industrial broom, went over, and began to sweep away some of the debris. I could see the curtain pulled back as he watched me through the window.

I began to create a little pile of debris collected from the concrete dust, splintered wood, and shattered glass. I had no other opportunity but to temporarily bury it because it was dangerous. The dust was blowing everywhere, probably causing breathing problems for everyone. I left the broom right there at the end of the day. The next day I took a shovel there and dug a long trench.

I dumped the stone and cement into it and left it open thinking to use it later in some way to deal with the sewage problem that they were probably having like most of the people in the city. He and his wife came outside and approached me.

“You from the government?” He asked. “About time,” his wife commented. I laughed.

“If you’re waiting for the government to do anything you’re going to be waiting a long time. I don’t know what I’m doing, but at least I’m doing something,” I said, shoving my shovel into the ground and leaning on the handle. “Haven’t you noticed the government isn’t here?” He grinned.

He extended his hand. “Brian,” he said. I shook it. “This is Clara” She stepped forward and extended her hand. A couple of more people had stopped by as we were talking. “We can’t pay you for this you know,” Brian said.

“I’m not asking for your money. I just want to help. If you’ve ever been to Hell like I have and survived, you know it’s the right thing to do. I’m thinking that we can use this debris and make one of those pools or something where waste can flow into it so our houses won’t get contaminated.

“A cesspool,” a person standing near said. “I can help you with that. I have some time. I’m not working. Most of us aren’t.”

“Yeah. Something like that. I’m sure we can find enough rubble. We just need a plan. I’m a counselor. I don’t know much about this type of stuff.”

“Well I know enough about it,” the stranger said. “He extended his hand. “Bill.” We shook hands.

“I’m Dr. John,” I said. “I’m running out of time today. Are you free tomorrow?”

“Sure am. And I’ll bring some friends. We can start here and then rebuild some type of sewage system ourselves. It may be antiquated, but that is better than nothing.”

“I agree,” Brian added.

“Oh, I forgot,” I said. “I’m sorry, but I never got permission to start doing this on your property.

“Don’t worry about that, It’s about time somebody started doing something,” Clara said, “It’s a gift from God.” She looked at me. “You are a gift from God,” she said. I laughed.

“That’s something no one has ever said about me,” I replied.

***

The End