States of Hell | The Great Valley of Grey Stones

 States of Hell

The Great Valley of Grey Stones

One place is a great valley of grey stones with dim, cold, grey hills shutting it in on every side; and this twilight sky overhead. Not a blade of grass, not one stunted shrub is to be seen, not one touch of colour or brightness anywhere, only this dull desolation of grey stones. Those who dwell in this valley have centred their lives and affections on themselves and have shut up their hearts against all the warmth and beauty of unselfish love. They have lived only for themselves, their own gratification, and ambitions, and now they see nothing but themselves and the grey desolation of their hard selfish lives around them. 

A great many beings flit uneasily about in this valley but they have lost the power to see anyone else.

These unhappy beings remain invisible to each other until such time as the thought of another and the desire to do something for someone besides themselves awakens and they become conscious of those near to them. Through their efforts to lighten another's lot, they improve their own until their stunted affections expand and the hazy valley of selfishness no longer holds them in its chains.

Aulis Nyqvist | Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported