Gabriel On The Moon

Once, a very long long, time ago there was nothing anywhere in all of existence, except God. He was all there was. He was complete, so there did not need to be anything else. But God had a thought, and he wanted to create Angels, so he first made a place big enough to contain them, which he called Heaven. And so he created them. He made all of them, all at once.

They were all very surprised and delighted to be created, all fully grown and so strong and healthy. Naturally they all wanted to thank God for creating them, so they formed a long line to pay their respects and give him their thanks. It WAS a long line, stretching off into eternity. This business went on for a very long time, since God and Angels are very patient, but a few of them were wondering aloud if there wouldn't be a better way to say thanks.

God heard them, so he said, "Why don't you create some music?"

They didn't know what that was, so they asked God about it, and he explained it to them. Soon they were writing music to sing, and inventing words to make into lyrics. This was great! They all were very happy and God was pleased with their effort to honor him.

So they began! It was wonderful to hear, with all the Angels singing in all their parts and harmony. It was very inventive and beautiful, -except - off in the distance, way over yonder, there was an awful sound! Everyone stopped to listen, and soon there was a big empty circle around one Angel, who was sort of sheepishly bowing his head. (He hadn't thought he was THAT bad...)

God said, "Gabriel! Izzat you?"

Gab acknowledged that is was indeed him that had made that extraordinary sound, since it really couldn't be called music.

God said, "Gabriel! You can't carry a tune!" He was the only Angel created that somehow could not sing. So sad! Then God said, "Why don't you play an instrument to accompany the music?"

All the Angels were asking what an instrument was, so God explained it to them. Soon they all were happy again, inventing and building stringed instruments, woodwind instruments, and horns. There were violins, guitars, harps, pianos, and every kind of stringed instrument. There were clarinets, bassoons, flutes, and every kind of reed instruments. There were trumpets, French horns, saxophones, kazoos, and every kind of horn you could imagine.

Then the Angels all gathered around the throne of God and began to make music to go with the singing in their praise to God. It so was beautiful, - except, way over yonder, far off that-a-way, there was an awful, and LOUD sound. Everyone stopped to listen, and soon there was a big empty circle around one Angel. (Yep. It was Gabriel.)

God said, "Gabriel! You can't play that horn?"

Gabriel was sort of shy and he sheepishly admitted that he might need to practice. God said that was OK. "Gabe, stand over here by my throne and let these others sing and play their music. I will make you a place to practice. Is that alright?"

Gabriel agreed, and took his horn, and carried it under his arm as he walked in a very dignified way to the place God had said to go.

God later told him privately that he had a big project coming up and that he had the perfect place in mind for him to practice. Gabriel was happy, - and patient too, so he waited and listened to the music of Heaven, taking it all in.