A contractor dies in a car accident on his 40th birthday and finds himself
at the Pearly Gates. A brass band is playing, the Angels are singing a
beautiful hymn, there is a huge crowd cheering and shouting his name and absolutely everyone wants to shake his hand.
Just when he thinks it can't possibly get any better, Saint Peter himself
runs over, apologizes for not greeting him personally at the Pearly Gates,
shakes his hand and says "Congratulations son, we've been waiting
a long time for you".
Totally confused and a little embarassed, the contractor sheepishly looks at Saint Peter and says, "Saint Peter, I tried to live a God fearing life, I
loved my family, I tried to obey the ten commandments, but congratulations for what? I honestly don't remember doing anything really special when I was alive."
"Congratulations for what?" says St. Peter, totally amazed at the man's
modesty. "We're celebrating the fact that you lived to be 160 years old! God himself wants to meet you!"
The contractor is awestruck and can only look at St. Peter with his mouth
agape. When he regains his power of speech, he looks up at St. Peter and says, "Saint Peter, I lived my life in the eternal hope that when I died I would be judged by God and found to be worthy, but I only lived to be 40 years old."
"That's simply impossible son," says Saint Peter. "We've added up your time sheets."
at the Pearly Gates. A brass band is playing, the Angels are singing a
beautiful hymn, there is a huge crowd cheering and shouting his name and absolutely everyone wants to shake his hand.
Just when he thinks it can't possibly get any better, Saint Peter himself
runs over, apologizes for not greeting him personally at the Pearly Gates,
shakes his hand and says "Congratulations son, we've been waiting
a long time for you".
Totally confused and a little embarassed, the contractor sheepishly looks at Saint Peter and says, "Saint Peter, I tried to live a God fearing life, I
loved my family, I tried to obey the ten commandments, but congratulations for what? I honestly don't remember doing anything really special when I was alive."
"Congratulations for what?" says St. Peter, totally amazed at the man's
modesty. "We're celebrating the fact that you lived to be 160 years old! God himself wants to meet you!"
The contractor is awestruck and can only look at St. Peter with his mouth
agape. When he regains his power of speech, he looks up at St. Peter and says, "Saint Peter, I lived my life in the eternal hope that when I died I would be judged by God and found to be worthy, but I only lived to be 40 years old."
"That's simply impossible son," says Saint Peter. "We've added up your time sheets."