Sam and the Mirrors

So a guy, let’s call him Sam, got so sick and tired of having the same job and living in the same house, that he decided to hit the road.

In a distance he sees a very charming city on a hill. Wow, he says. That looks so promising and enticing. I want to live in this town.

He gets there, buys an old house that needs some fixing, and begins to work with a contractor. I have something special for you, says the contractor. I can install special mirrors in your house, the ones that would show the true face of everyone who enters the premises.

Fine, says the Sam. Expensive as it is, I want these mirrors. And sure enough, everyone who enters the house is reflected in the mirror it its true colors. Some have their faces fat, red, angry, hateful, and haughty, others appear blue, thin, sanctimonious, anxious, suspicious, and ready to take offense.

It went on for a while, until our Sam got so tired of his guests and their arguments and mockery, and dismissals, that he decided to live alone. Yet, every time he would pass one of the mirrors, he would look at it, and see his face, now fat, red, angry, hateful, and haughty, and now blue, thin, sanctimonious, anxious, suspicious, and ready to take offense.

He would replace mirrors, but to no avail. The same tired images again and again.

In anger, he once again, decided to leave his house. He traveled all over the world, but the image in the mirrors did not change. One day, he’ll see his face as red, angry and obnoxious, another — as blue, suspicious and sanctimonious.

Eventually Sam dies, and arrives at the sorting station, where various souls are waiting for their final destination. And the whole station is constructed of mirrors, and all he sees is the same two images. Red and blue, angry and ready to take offense. Why, he asks St. Peter, who Sam recognized. — Didn’t I try to avoid these faces in my life. Why does my soul looks like that?

— You thought you tried. But in fact, all you wanted is to be like everyone else. And that’s what you got. So follow the crowd and stop asking stupid questions.