#lastfirst

A man died. This man utterly depended on Jesus Christ. Now dead, in heaven as an initiate into eternity (how long is that process?) he met many interesting people. One day he happened upon a street sweeper. Yes, literally, a man pushing a broom down the streets of gold. "What is this?" said the man. The sweeper heard him and responded, "What's what?" "You're sweeping." "Yes, I'm sweeping the streets." "But why? I mean, there isn't dirt here. Is there? And who would sweep in heaven? Why sweeping?" "You are very confused." "Um, well, yes. Indeed. Apparently. Yes." "As to your first question, 'Why?', it's because everyone has a job. This is mine." "Oh. I guess I don't know mine yet." "I would say not. You've only just arrived. It takes a while to learn how to do your job." "Well, you must know what my job will be?" "No. It's just that it takes a while to learn any of them, I mean." "Certainly it doesn’t take long to learn sweeping?" "You think not? Well, in fact I've only just begun to learn what it means to sweep a street." "Hmm," said the initiate thoughtfully. After a pause, the sweeper began again. "Now, you asked three other questions. The next was about if dirt is what's being swept by me. No, it isn't dirt. You're right that there is nothing dirty in the least here. But there are kinds of by-products. Not 'waste' exactly, but leftovers nonetheless. Everyone traveling through leaves behind some light." "I'm sorry, what? Light? How is that? You can't sweep up light, can you?" "Oh not everyone, but I'm learning how. Like I said, I've only just begun to get it. I've been at it a while. At least a long time in the sense of what we called "time" in the prologue." "Prologue?" "Oh, yes. That is the shorthand for your life in your broken body. Everything before your death." "Ah. Thank you." "Indeed. Now the next thing you asked was who would sweep in heaven. My name is David. I think there may be a few other sweepers. What is your name?" "I'm Lou Edison. It's a pleasure. David what?" "Oh, in those days it was only 'David'. Perhaps David Jessison or something like that, by your method, son of Ed. The pleasure is mine." "Ah, I see. Wait! What?! You mean THE David?! KING David?! You are King David?" "Yes, I am David." "Oh. Uh. But. Sir, you are so highly regarded and "after His own heart" even. Why have you been sweeping?" "Yes, that was your last question. But you answered it yourself." "I'm sorry?" "I was highly regarded, knew Him well in the prologue, was a king." "And so..." "The first shall be last; the last shall be first." "Oh. You mean?" "What do you mean?" "This is some sort of punishment for having received some of your reward during your life, or something?" "No. That is not it. You probably know Him better than that, if you'll think a moment." "Right. There is no punishment. All punishment has been taken." "Good." "Then some slighted degree of reward?" "That confuses it. Let me tell you this: 'the first shall be last; the last shall be first' is still true in the chapters, here." "I don't think I'm following." "This is an unspeakable reward to sweep light." "But, no one knows you. You are just a janitor. How can it be a reward?" "My friend, you have again answered your own question. Only you don't have all the details. He knows me, and I know Him. That is a reward indeed. This is my job, and I was made to do it. I love this sweeping, this road, the occasional friend stopping. I love this light, His light. I love Him. He is always here. And He also stops by." "I don't understand yet. But if I've learned anything from our conversation, I suppose I will get it eventually." "You've got that part already! Good word, my friend. Enjoy your walk." "Thank you."