John And The Visions Of Hell – Spiritual Story by Paulo Coelho

“Perhaps Jesus sent some of His apostles to Hell to save souls,” said John, “even in the worst of torments, not all is lost.”

The idea surprises me. We are chatting in one of the few bars in Los Angeles. John is a firefighter, and today is his day off.

“Why do you say that?” I ask.

“Because I have experienced the same torment here on earth. I enter buildings in flames, see desperate people trying to get out and have often risked my life to save them. I am just a particle in this immense universe, forced to act like a hero in the middle of fire and despair. If I, who am no one of importance, can manage to act in this way, imagine what Jesus can do! For sure, some of His apostles are infiltrated in Hell, saving souls.”

Paulo Coelho is a Brazilian author who has sold more than 100 million books, which include 14 short story collections and the novel “The Alchemist.”