Activity 1: Story - The Difference between Heaven and Hell
Part of Toolbox of Faith
Activity time: 5 minutes
Materials for Activity
- A copy of the story, "The Difference between Heaven and Hell"
- Optional: Two wooden spoons (or other long spoons), duct tape or masking tape, and two rulers, dowels, or yardsticks
Preparation for Activity
- Read the story, "The Difference between Heaven and Hell," and prepare to share it with the group. For a more dramatic storytelling, gather the props you will use.
- Gather participants in a comfortable configuration for listening to a story.
Description of Activity
Through this folk tale, the participants will understand the value of cooperation, a key quality of making promises.
Introduce the story by saying that this folk tale is a version of one told in China and Japan.
Read the story aloud. Or, tell the story dramatically: To demonstrate how people ate in hell, tape a spoon to a ruler or dowel so that the entire length is longer than your own arm. When you get to the next paragraph about heaven, tape the other spoon to another ruler. Ask some participants to help illustrate the way the people ate in heaven, by pretending to feed each other.
After the story, invite participants to share their reflections and initial thoughts about the folk tale. The discussion will be continued in depth in the Council Circle.