Once upon a time in the kingdom of Heaven, God was missing for six
days. Eventually, Michael the archangel found him, resting on the
seventh day. He inquired of God. "Where have you been?"
God sighed a deep sigh of satisfaction and proudly pointed downwards
through the clouds, "Look, Michael. Look what I've made."
Archangel Michael looked puzzled and said, "What is it?"
"It's a planet," replied God, "and I've put Life on it. I'm going
to call it Earth and it's going to be a great place of balance."
"Balance?" Inquired Michael, still confused.
God explained, pointing to different parts of earth. "For example,
northern Europe will be a place of great opportunity and wealth but
cold and harsh while southern Europe is going to be poor but sunny
and pleasant. "I have made some lands abundant in water and other
lands parched deserts. "This one will be extremely hot and while this
one will be very cold and covered in ice."
The Archangel, impressed by God's work, then pointed to a land mass
and said, "What's that one?"
"Ah," said God. "That's Alabama -- the most glorious place on earth.
There are beautiful beaches, streams, hills, and forests. The people
from Alabama are going to be handsome, modest, intelligent and
humorous and they are going to be found traveling the world. They
will be extremely sociable, hardworking and high achieving, and they
will be known throughout the world as diplomats and carriers of
peace."
Michael gasped in wonder and admiration but then proclaimed, "What
about balance, God? You said there would be balance!"
God replied wisely, "Wait until you see the idiots I put in
Montgomery."
