Once upon a time in the Kingdom of Heaven, God went missing for
six days. Eventually, Michael the archangel found him, resting on
the seventh day.
He inquired of God, "Where have you been?"
God sighed a deep sigh of satisfaction and proudly pointed
downwards through the clouds, "Look Michael, look what I've
made."
Archangel Michael looked puzzled and said, "What is it?"
"It's a planet," replied God, "and I've put LIFE on it. I'm going
to call it Earth and it's going to be a great place of balance."
"Balance?" inquired Michael, still confused.
God explained, pointing to different parts of Earth, "For
example, Northern Europe will be a place of great opportunity and
wealth while Southern Europe is going to be poor. Over there I've
placed a continent of white people and over there is a continent
of black people."
God continued, pointing to different countries. "This one will be
extremely hot and arid while this one will be very cold and
covered in ice."
The Archangel, impressed by Gods work, then pointed to a large
land mass in the top corner and asked, "What's that one?"
"Ah," said God. "That's Canada, the most glorious place on Earth.
There are beautiful mountains, lakes, rivers, streams and an
exquisite coastline. The people from Canada are going to be
modest, intelligent and humorous and they're going to be found
traveling the world. They'll be extremely sociable, hard working
and high-achieving, and they will be known throughout the world
as diplomats and carriers of peace. I'm also going to give them
superhuman, undefeatable ice hockey players who will be admired
and feared by all who come across them."
Michael gasped in wonder and admiration but then proclaimed,
"What about balance, God? You said there would be BALANCE!"
God replied wisely,
"Wait until you see the loud-mouth bastards I'm putting next to
them."
