An
American decided to write a book about famous churches around the world.
So
he bought a plane ticket and took a trip to Orlando, thinking that he would
start by working his way across the USA 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 travelled 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 decided to travel to up to Canada to see if
Canadians had the same phone.
He
arrived in Canada, and again, in the first church he entered, there was the
same golden telephone, but this time the sign under it read "40 cents per
call."
The
American was surprised so he asked the priest about the sign. "Father, I've travelled 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 the US the price was $10,000 per call.
Why
is it so cheap here?"
The
priest smiled and answered, "You're in Canada now, son - it's a local
call".