Golden Telephone
An American
decided to write a book about famous churches around the world. For his first chapter he
decided to write about American churches. So he bought a plane ticket and took a trip to
Orlando, thinking that he would work his way across the country from South to North.
On his first day he was inside a church taking photographs when he noticed a golden
telephone mounted on the wall with a sign that read $10,000 per call". The American,
being intrigued, asked a priest who was strolling by what the telephone was used for. The
priest replied that it was a direct line to heaven and that for $10,000 you could talk to
God. The American thanked the priest and went along his way.
Next stop was in Atlanta. There, at a very large cathedral, he saw the same golden
telephone with the same sign under it. He wondered if this was the same kind of telephone
he saw in Orlando and he asked a nearby nun what its purpose was. She told him that it was
a direct line to heaven and that for $10,000 he could talk to God. "O.K., thank
you," said the American.
He then traveled to Indianapolis, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Boston, and New York. In
every church he saw the same golden telephone with the same $10,000 per call" sign
under it.
The American, upon leaving Vermont saw a sign for Canada and decided to see if Canadians
had the same phone. He arrived in Montreal, and again, there was the same golden
telephone, but this time the sign under it read "10 cents per call." The
American was surprised so he asked the priest about the sign. "Father, I've traveled
all over America and I've seen this same golden telephone in many churches. I'm told that
it is a direct line to Heaven, but in every state the price was $10,000 - US - per call.
Why is it so cheap here?"
The priest smiled and answered, "You're in Canada now son, it's a local call."