God's Son Makes a Choice

 "We need some help here," said God, looking down over the universe stretched out before him. "It's not so much that terrible things are happening on Planet Earth - although they are - but it's more that the human beings I created have forgotten my existence. I wouldn't mind that, but they no longer know that I love them, and that I do mind."

"What's the plan, then?" asked God's son.

"I was hoping you might have some ideas," answered God.

God's son thought for a while. Then he said, "I could go, if you like. I mean, I could tell them all about your love and reveal to them all the amazing things you have waiting for them and how you can transform their lives. How about that?"

"Hmm," said God. "Sounds like a plan, but suppose it doesn't work out like that? And how would you get there? I mean, if you just float down from heaven on a cloud, they'll all treat you like royalty and you won't get near any of them except the important people. I'm not sure that would work."

God's son thought again. Then he said, "Suppose you wipe all memory of Heaven from my mind so that I'm just like one of them, and then get me born as a baby just like them? Then I'll be one of them and I can meet all sorts of people. Hey, I'd really like to be human for a while! How about it?"

God frowned. "The trouble with you youngsters is that you're always wanting new experiences! Being human isn't necessarily all it's cracked up to be, you know."

"Oh, go on!" urged God's son. "Give it a whirl. It can't be that bad. Now, what's the brief?"

God sighed. He had an inkling this mission might prove dangerous, and he wasn't at all sure he wanted his son caught up in it. But, God reflected, they were all his children. He loved them all with an abiding passion, and if his son could pull it off, why, maybe then all his children would come home to him and he'd be able to lavish his love upon them once again.

But it must be his son's own choice, and his son needed to know some of the awful things that might happen. "Look," said God. "If I wipe your memories it'll be total, you do realise that? You won't be just like a human being, you'll actually be a human being, with all their thoughts and emotions and difficulties. You'll still be able to talk with me and listen to me if you want to, but only like any other human being talks with me and listens to me. You may find you move away from me, and if you do that, it might be quite difficult for me to reach you."

"Yes, yes," said his son, impatiently. "I know all that. It'll be fine, don't worry so much."

"Just hold on a moment," replied God. "There's more. Although human beings are the greatest creatures I ever invented, they're not perfect. As you know, I gave them free will and they're free to do whatever they want to do. Some of them actually enjoy hurting other human beings, and some of them have moved so far away from me that their lives are ruled entirely by worries about how much they can get for themselves. And some of them will do anything - and I do mean anything - to make themselves important in the eyes of other human beings. This means Planet Earth could be a very dangerous place."

"Well," said God's son, "I'll take care. Now, what's the brief?"

God looked at his son standing there so fine and tall and eager. "The brief," said God, "is to show human beings how passionately I love them. It means you must demonstrate my love in every way. Heal their sicknesses of body, mind and especially soul. Listen to them and love them and care for them because they are my most treasured children. Always be completely honest with them even if it means they hurt you. Forgive them whenever they hurt you or each other or me. And remember, whatever they do to you, you must never, ever stop loving them utterly and completely, because that's how I love them. And you must do all this not as a being with special divine powers, but as a human being. If you can achieve that, then you really will open the way for all of them to return to me and I'll be able to pour my love over them as never before. What do you say? Can you do it?"

God's son gulped as he began to realise just what was expected of him. But he bowed his head and said quietly, "I will, the Lord being my helper."