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Mitch loved his church. He loved tending the garden, cleaning up the yards, and planting flowers every spring. He made sure it looked spotless every Sunday morning.

One morning during adult Sunday school, Pastor Wangly asked the class if they were going to heaven. Some said they hoped so. Some said they weren't sure because they were still sinners. Some said they thought they would. Pastor Wangley asked Mitch. Mitch said that he felt he was a good Christian, that he was willing to spend hours and hours at church, and that he was surely going to heaven. Pastor Wangley challenged him.

"Mitch, do you think you are going to heaven because of all you do here at church?" Mitch nodded his head confidently. Yes, he did much around the church, paid for most of it out of his own pocket, and loved what he did for the church. The pastor praised Mitch for his efforts and reminded people that his work was beautiful - the lawns and flower beds were works of art. But Pastor Wangly also wanted to know about Mrs. So--and--so. Would she get to heaven if she never lifted a flower pot? Would she be able to go to heaven if she didn't "do" anything for the church? Time for the class was getting short, and Pastor Wangly surprised them by giving them homework. They were to concentrate on the question of who would get to heaven and why for the entire week and then come back next Sunday morning for discussion. Pastor Wangly got up to lead service; Mitch got up to make sure the sprinklers were reaching the west corner.

Mitch was bending over to pick up a dead flower when Mrs. Hanson walked up. "You do a beautiful job here, Mitch. I wish I had enough energy to tend the flowers like you do. We appreciate it. It's a joy to look at." Mitch smiled. Funny Mrs. Hanson. She was older than the hills - about 97 or 98 - and she was loved by everyone. She didn't remember much, but she knew everyone's names and what they did at church. Mitch wondered if she did anything at church.

It was communion Sunday that day and Mitch sat back in the fourth pew as he always did and watched as his fellow church members went up for communion. One by one they received Pastor Wangly's words: "The blood of Christ, shed for you; the body of Christ, given for you." It was like a mantra as Mitch heard the words over and over again. He began to reflect on the Sunday school assignment. Who would go to heaven?

Mitch saw the Warners get up to get communion. Karen polished the brass like no one else could in the altar guild. Surely she would go to heaven. But she had had a drug habit when she was young. Would she go to heaven?

Sandy got up with her three children. They were so cute. They were like stairsteps and the littlest one was about two years old. They loved coming to church - they sat on the first pew and quietly drew in their coloring books during the sermon. Surely they would go to heaven! But Sandy's children had different fathers. Would that count against her? Would she go to heaven?

Norm and Eugenia got up. They were a lovely couple. Always ready to offer their home to missionaries or visitors, they loved people and were very gracious. They were known for their hospitality. Yet in class today Norm was the one who said he "hoped" to go to heaven. Maybe he wouldn't?

As communion went on, Mitch asked himself if each person was going to heaven. Suddenly it hit him! It wasn't "what" the person did around church, in the community, or in the world. It was "why" they did it. Mitch only had to turn to the person next to him to see a willing worker who was happy to help in any way. Wow! Some are busy doing busy work; others are genuinely interested in doing God's work.