He'd been with the Order for a long time and knew, faithfully, the rules of life with the brothers. He had no aspirations to the priesthood, only a life of quiet contemplation and study. To earn his keep, he was assigned the menial jobs of housekeeping, and he did them with the same joy he extended to anything else, no more, no less. He was happy with the simplicity of his life. It has order and routine; every day gave him the satisfaction of accomplishment, even if that accomplishment was the same as the one he realized yesterday... and the day before... and the day before that. He was cleaning the floor in front of the altar when suddenly a brilliant light, a blinding light, descended from the ceiling and settled before him. He looked up to see... an angel. Quickly, he bowed in supplication. But the angel merely laughed. "Get up, you! I talk to faces, not the backs of heads!... There. Much better." "Who... who are you?" The being smiled, gloriously. "I am the Angel of Happiness. And we need to talk. God has sent me because it seems to Him that you, sir, are not happy." "But — " "You live within the walls of this cloister and rarely see so much as the sun. You spend your days cleaning up after others. Now this may be some new definition of Happiness with which I am not aware," the angel laughed, "but I do believe we need to change things a bit." "But... but I am happy." The angel folded its great wings and sat on the stone steps. "Really? When was the last time you smelled the sky just before a rainstorm? How about hearing the sound of a mother pigeon cooing to its young? As for touch, when was the last time you were near a woman?" "But I have no interest in women!" The angel nodded. "Fine. A man, then." "No! Neither! I dont wish to succumb to the sins of the flesh!" "Sins?" the angel laughed, uproariously. "Why do you think God made sex so much... well, fun? Because He intended it as a trap?" "No, but — " "Hey, dont misunderstand. We're not talking mindless abandon here, okay? But every now and then, getting out and enjoying yourself with wine, good food, women — or men, as you prefer — what's so wrong with that?" "It's — it's... giving over to the desires of the flesh!" The angel grabbed his arm and shook it. "And why do you think God gave you flesh in the first place?" "... I... As a test! Of my devotion!" "Dont you think your devotion would be better served by using the gifts He's given you? Again, not wantonly, but with respect and responsibility and — most of all — enjoyment? You got one life, bud. Is this how you want to spend it?" "... I... dont know. But I like my life, just as it is. Is there something wrong with that?" "You're sure." The man nodded. "Yes. I think so. Yes." The angel stood. "Well, I'll explain it to Him. He wont be happy, but hey, if it's what you want. But I tell you what." He walked across the sacristy and opened a small door to one side. It led into the garden, a place the man had never been. "Anytime you change your mind, just go through there. The world will be waiting for you. Agreed?" The man nodded. The angel, laughing again, rose in brilliance and disappeared. The man walked to the garden door. He could smell the rich earth, the fragrant flowers. A soft wind rustled his hair as the warmth of the sun danced on his face. With a satisfied smile, the man closed the door and returned to cleaning the floor...