Qualifying For Heaven

Recently a teacher, a garbage collector, and a lawyer wound up together at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter informed them that in order to get into Heaven, they would each have to answer one question.

St. Peter addressed the teacher and asked, “What was the name of the ship that crashed into the iceberg? They just made a movie about it.”

The teacher answered quickly, “That would be the Titanic.” St. Peter let him through the gate.

St. Peter turned to the garbage man and, figuring Heaven didn’t *really* need all the odors that this guy would bring with him, decided to make the question a little harder: “How many people died on the ship?”

Fortunately for him, the trash man had just seen the movie. “1,228,” he answered.

“That’s right! You may enter.”

St. Peter then turned his attention to the lawyer… “Name them.”

Charity???

A local Goodwill office realized that their organization had never received a donation from the town’s most successful lawyer. The manager in charge of financial contributions telephoned the lawyer in an attempt to persuade him to contribute.

“Sir, our research shows that while you make an annual income of over $500,000 you haven’t donated anything to charity. Wouldn’t you like to give back to our community?”

The lawyer thought this over for a bit and finally replied, “Well, did your research also show that my mother is dying after a long illness and has medical bills adding up to several times over her annual income?” Embarrassed, the Goodwill manager mumbled, “Um… no sir but…”

Cutting the Goodwill rep off, the lawyer interrupts, “or that my brother, a disabled veteran, is blind and confined to a wheelchair?” The embarassed Goodwill rep began to stammer out an apology, but was interrupted yet again. ”

Or that my sister’s husband died in a traffic accident,” the lawyer’s voice rising in indignation, “leaving her penniless with three children?”

The humiliated representative, completely beaten, simply sighed, “I had no idea… I’m sor…”

On a roll, the lawyer cut him off once again, “So if I don’t give any money to them, why should I give any to you?”