Here's a parable for us all...
One day while walking downtown, an airline Flight Ops Department SVP (insert name of choice) was hit by a bus and tragically killed.
When his soul arrived in heaven, he was met at the Pearly Gates by St. Peter himself.
"Welcome to Heaven," said St. Peter. "Before you get settled in though, it seems we have a problem. You see, strangely enough, we have never once had a FltOps SVP make it this far and we're not at all sure what to do with you."
"No problem", said the SVP, "just let me in."
"Well, I'd like to, but I have higher orders. What we're going to do is to let you have a day in Hell and a day in Heaven. Then you can choose whichever one you want to spend an eternity in" the Saint replied.
"Actually, I think I've already made up my mind...I would prefer to stay in Heaven".
"Sorry, but we have rules..." and with that St. Peter put the SVP in an elevator and down-down-down it went to Hell.
When the elevator doors opened, the SVP found himself stepping out onto the putting green of a beautiful golf course. In the distance, there was a country club and standing just in front of him were all of his old friends - fellow airline SVP's that he'd had once worked with.
They were all dressed in tuxedo's, and everyone was cheering for him. They ran over, shook his hand firmly, and he had a wonderful time talking with everyone about old times.
They then played an excellent round of golf, and that night they went to the country club where he enjoyed an excellent steak and lobster dinner.
At the clubhouse, he met the Devil, who was actually a really nice guy - they seemed to have a lot in common - and with whom he had a great time telling jokes and drinking. Indeed the SVP was having such a good time that before he knew it, it was time to leave. Everybody shook his hand and waved him good-bye as he got on the elevator. The elevator then went up-up-up and the door opened back up at the Pearly Gates where St. Peter was waiting for him.
"Now it's time to spend a day in Heaven", said St.Peter.
So the SVP spent the next 24 hours lounging around the clouds, playing a harp and singing. He had a pretty good time, albeit somewhat benign, and before he knew it, his 24 hours in Heaven were up and St. Peter came and got him.
"So, you've now spent a day in Hell and a day in Heaven. It is time for you to choose your eternity", said St.peter.
The SVP paused for a second and then replied, "Well, I never thought I'd say this. I mean, Heaven has been really great and all, but I think I had a better time in Hell."
So St. Peter escorted him back to the elevator and again the SVP went down-down-down to Hell.
When the doors of the elevator opened he found himself standing in a desolate wasteland covered in garbage and filth. To his horror, he saw that his friends were now dressed in rags and picking up garbage to put in sacks for the evening meal.
The Devil came up to SVP, put his arm around his shoulder and laughed.
"I don't understand," stammered the SVP, "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course, and a country club, and we ate lobster, and drank like fish, and had a great time. Now all there is is a wasteland of garbage and all my friends look miserable."
The Devil looked at him and grinned, "Ah, well, that's because yesterday we were recruiting you, but today you're staff!"