Michael J Mallen

JUDY SINGER WAS a good girl. She went to church on Sunday and was always obedient to her parents and teachers. When she was thirteen she started to feel her body change. Her mother had a talk with her and told her about the wicked urges that the Devil brought on when women reached a certain age.

Her mother told her the best thing to do was to pray harder and seek God’s grace. Judy did her best to comply but the urge just got stronger. After years of denial, the pressure was too great. She went out and got drunk, then had sex with a man twice her age. Her mother found out about it and laid down the law.

“Judy, you have lost your way. You are hereby grounded and must do penance for your sins. God has spoken to me. I am your mother. You will obey me. If you do as I say, you will be forgiven. Heed my words, otherwise you will end up in eternal darkness and be lost forever, condemned to the fires of Hell.”

Judy took it all in and was ashamed, and feared for her eternal soul. She went to her room and got down on her knees and started praying.

“Dear God, forgive me for my sins. I invoke your grace to make me good again.”

She heard a voice speak, “What makes you think what you did was wrong?”

This must clearly be the Devil speaking.

“Get thee behind me Satan,” she implored.

“Honey, the Devil is just a figment of somebody’s imagination. Your parents have bought into the narrative along with millions of others. Become free.”

“Who are you?”

“I am what’s in your heart.”

“Are you God?”

“God is within you. It is the good feeling you have when you look inside and feel joy and light.”

“What should I do?”

“Do what your heart tells you. Remember, God helps those who help themselves.”

Judy thought about what had just happened and it all started to make sense. If she stuck with her Mother’s program, she’d become just like her—a bitter, hateful woman whose religion was a burden and an obligation.

At three in the morning Judy packed some clothes and snacks in a backpack, and snuck out of the house. When she was several blocks away, she looked in all directions, then headed south to seek the unknown. Without knowing where she was going, she somehow felt she was on the right path.

A month later, a neighbor asked Judy’s mother what happened to her daughter. “She’s gone to the Devil.”

Judy got a job at a McDonald’s, learned to sing, and got into a rock band. In five years, the band was discovered by a famous influencer who was passing through town and just happened to catch the group at a local club.  He used his huge platform to launch their career.

Judy became famous for her aggressive, uncompromising style. She inspired her fans to reach for their dreams and was loved by millions.

She thought to herself how strange and paradoxical life was: “I’m playing the Devil’s music and living in Heaven.”