"The Lame Shall Enter First"

I really enjoyed this story. The fact that a child only ten years old was capable of hanging himself was a huge shocker. This story definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. I thought it was although kind of Sheppard to want to help and enlighten Rufus, it was pitiful how naive and ignorant Sheppard was to his own son's need. Spiritually, Rufus believes in good and evil and is convinced he is under Satan's power to do evil. Unintentionally Rufus does, however, reveal to Sheppard the neglect his son was experiencing.

Norton, grieving his mother's death is in utter need of love and compassion that he is not receiving from his own father. Rufus, refusing the telescope Sheppard gives him, convinces Norton to look through the telescope to find his mom, and that he indeed can join her, but must die young in order to do so. Consequently Norton takes his own life, just short of his father's sudden compassion for him.

Lack of belief in God is the real antagonist in this story. Sheppard does not believe in God or Heaven and believes that helping others in the most important thing to do at this time. It is his lack of belief in God and empathy that blinds him from his son's need for love and creates a false understanding of what "good" really is. Moral good does not come from doing good, but from love and compassion.

*The Lame Shall Enter [Heaven] First* and all sins with always be forgiven.