Time To Pack It In! Poem by Denis Martindale

When young Fred went to Heaven, he wasn't met by Jesus, or an archangel, or an angel, or any of his family. So he decided to tour whatever the streets of gold had to offer him. He walked past the impressive mansions, fancy buildings, and the home-sweet-home cabins and caravans. After a while, he felt somewhat tired and was glad to see a 'Welcome! ' sign on the front entrance of a small building. Somehow, the sign spoke directly to Fred and invited him in to have a little rest.

Once inside, he saw a group of men and women playing cards together. Fred was a loner, and he walked over to a different table where he saw an unopened deck of cards. So he sat down, shuffled the deck and began playing Solitaire, all on his lonesome.

Five hundred years passed by, and he was still there playing Solitaire. The others were still playing their cards. He hadn't spoken to the group, and they hadn't spoken to him in all that time. That's just the way it was for every single one of them. Even so, they were about to experience a day that shocked them all.

Jesus walked in, and it was like the restroom was suddenly filled with the fragrance of roses. The people turned around and recognised the Lord for who He was, rather than an archangel or an angel. Everybody bowed to Jesus, and He smiled at them all. He motioned to them to sit down again and carry on as they were. So that's exactly what they did, except that each of them looked with one eye on the cards and the other eye on Jesus. The Lord walked over to Fred's table, and a chair supernaturally appeared for Jesus to sit on. Fred gasped and stared at the chair with his mouth wide open in astonishment.

The others were just as amazed as Fred was, yet they strained themselves to contain their excitement. So it was that Jesus spoke to Fred with a simple question, 'Wouldn't it be more interesting to join the others playing cards than to sit here all on your own? ' and Fred gave Jesus a truthful answer. But Jesus wasn't satisfied, and that's why He asked the same question again. So Fred gave Jesus a longer answer. But then Jesus asked the same question again! After a while, Fred got the message. Jesus wanted Fred to join the others at the other table. That's when Jesus pointed directly to the other table, where a chair supernaturally appeared just for Fred. Well, you can imagine... Fred stared. The others stared. And when Jesus disappeared, the others looked at Fred, who stared right back at them with his mouth wide open yet again.

Well, Fred was obviously not quick on the uptake about this, but he stood up for the first time in five hundred years and walked to the other table. As soon as he sat down, all the cards disappeared as a fresh deck of cards appeared to signify that this was a special deal, a special deal indeed.

After a thousand years had passed, young Fred had learned a great deal about the others and they about him. He had seen hundreds of card tricks and had heard a thousand jokes, so he was entertained as the centuries flew by. Even so, one day, he sighed, and the others sensed this was the last day they would play cards with their friend. In truth, something was actually 'playing on his mind'.

Fred stood up and embraced each of his friends before saying his farewells. He left them and walked toward the tallest building in Heaven. He needed to speak to Jesus. To his amazement, Jesus appeared beside him, and he was told that he didn't need to walk any further, as the pilgrim's prayer had been expected for ages and ages.

Jesus told Fred that He knew what Fred wanted and, in fact, needed after all this time. So Fred was glad that he didn't need to be embarrassed about what he hoped Jesus would grant him. Jesus put His arm on Fred's shoulder, and they were both transported to the entrance of Heaven. Jesus told Fred the sad truth of the believer's experience in Heaven.

'You came here as a loner, seeking nobody. You made some wonderful friends. But as the centuries went by, you realised that the restroom was no longer needed. It had served its purpose. Now you have the confidence to speak to people. It was then that something changed inside your heart and mind. You realised that some believers who come to Heaven could waste centuries in that restroom, achieving very little progress in spiritual blessings for themselves or for others. So I want you to stand here and to sit here, to meet and greet people as they enter Heaven. Tell them how you spent your time here until you sensed there had to be a whole lot more than that, or else Heaven wouldn't be Heaven at all. Your testimony could bless millions of believers once they hear how shy you were, and just how much of a loner you were! '

Fred felt incredibly humbled to be trusted by the Lord. He nodded to Jesus, and Jesus embraced Fred and said a gentle whispered farewell. That's when several chairs appeared next to Fred, and several believers suddenly appeared, too. Fred embraced each one in turn, and then he told them why Jesus had authorised him to meet and greet everyone. Having heard all that Fred had to say, the believers smiled fondly, embraced him and then went on their tour of the wonderful wonders of Heaven... He had saved them hundreds of years of wasting their time!

Well, all except one! George, the fanatical Chess player, who just so happened to bring his trusty old Chess set! Well, now, and what were the chances of that, hmmm?


Denis Martindale.7th of August 2026.


Here is a Heavenly parable by the Poemhunter poet Denis Martindale. It tells the tale of Fred. Young Fred wasn't exactly comfortable with other people. So, even when he arrived safe and sound in Heaven, he wasn't the life and the soul of the party. Nevertheless, Jesus had a plan to help him, no matter how long it took!