Good men like John are hard to come by .
Every night after he finished work he called in to say a quick prayer in church .
The front door was always shut but for anyone who needed , around the side there was another entrance to the church that was always left open .
I sometimes called in myself that’s how I got to know John .
He would always take a seat beside the confessional box and acknowledge any one who sat nearby with a nod .
Then as he knelt down he whispered the same words ,
“Hello Jesus. It’s John .”
Then he would get up and leave .
Each Friday night there was confessions and John stayed on a while longer for that .
One Friday I happened to be in the same confessional as John and overheard a conversation that seemed strange .
“Hello Father , its John .”
“Hello John , carry on my son :”
“Oh , I’ve lots of questions but there is never enough answers .”
Said John .
There was a brief silence and then there came a reply .
“Right then John ,ask as many as you like and I’ll try to answer them . “
“How long have you been here Father ?”
John asked .
“I’ve always been here .“
Came the reply .
“What do you think of mankind ?”
Said John .
“Oh man had always been good and bad . His love and faith have been tested since the first day he was created . Nothing has changed that much . There is still pride and unbelief yet within the heart of man there is a pure essence of love that can change given the right calling on his life .“
“Why are some called and others not ?”
John asked .
”Every one is called my son at some point in their life . “
The answer was quick in return .
“What do you think of the world and its people today ?”
John asked .
“The world was destroyed once by a flood . Sometimes I think maybe it should all come to an end again but once flooded twice shy . “
Came the reply .
John asked ,
“Why are there wars ?”
“Mankind has been given a free will . If he chooses to go to war or kill , that is his choice . ”
“Do you think man should be punished for his wickedness ?”
There have been famines and plagues . Angels of death have descended to awaken him from his evil ways . But mankind will not change .
The son of God himself came to earth and he was crucified . There has been a long history of punishments but it has never achieved anything . “
Came the answer .
“Does God ever come down to earth to be among us ?
John said .
“He did and he does John . “
Came the answer .
“Is there a life after death ?”
“ Yes and it is an eternal life John . “
“Is there heaven and hell ?”
John asked .
There was laughter and then the answer came
Hello John this is Jesus , come home . “
I opened the door of the confession box but saw that no one there .
The church was empty . I thought I must have imagined .
That evening as I left the church out the side door I saw a large crowd of people standing in a circle on the main road opposite the church .
John had been knocked down and killed by a truck that had swerved to miss a pram that had rolled away out onto the road .
A priest who had witnessed the accident had given John last rights before he died .
I returned back into the church and stay there until my eyes closed together .
I was awoke in the morning by some people who had come for early mass .
They asked me if I was ok .
I smiled and said
“I’m fine . I’ve just been here talking with God. “
The End
By Paul McCann
