Have you ever watched the Netflix show The Good Place with Ted Danson? Truth be told, I have not but I was intrigued when a friend told me about the show a few years ago. The premise must have been marinating in my brain, for eventually this poem was born and I think it was inspired by this show. According to Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Good_Place), the series is centered on an afterlife in which humans are sent to “the Good Place” or “the Bad Place” after death. All humans are assigned a numerical score based on the morality of their conduct in life, and only those with the very highest scores are sent to the Good Place, where they enjoy eternal happiness with their every wish granted, while all others experience an eternity of torture in the Bad Place. I tied this show back to this poem because those people who arrived in the Good Place did many good deeds in life, and got a head start on earning their angel wings before they even left this earth. The good news is, we all have that same opportunity.
As we go through this life, we have many chances to do good things that help earn our wings here on earth. We also have instances where we may make poor choices or decisions, and maybe in those moments those wings shrink back a little or are not as vibrant or even dim slightly. There are many things I’ve done well to help earn those wings; I’ve helped other people out, donated to charity, adopted several homeless animals, and so on. I feel the weight of those wings on my back in those moments and a warming in my soul. But in my own mind, there’s always that nagging feeling that I could’ve done more. I remember many years ago, I went to Chicago’s beautiful lakefront on a Friday in early August with my mom and stepdad to watch the rehearsal for the annual Air and Water Show. The Friday rehearsal was the same show as the Saturday and Sunday show but with fewer crowds, so it was definitely the better day to go in my opinion. I remember it was extremely hot that day, without a cloud in the sky as the sun beat down. As I sat on a bench, I diverted my eyes from the sky and saw a very old man walking with his empty paper plate, piled with napkins and used plastic utensils, to the garbage can. He was dressed so dapper in his white starched short sleeve shirt, bow tie, and pressed navy blue pants. As I watched him, there was a gust of wind, and his napkins and utensils blew to the ground. For some reason, I didn’t get up to help him clean up the mess. I just sat there, rooted to the bench as I watched him carefully and slowly bend over and gather up all the fallen items. And he did make sure to pick up every piece. I’m not sure where his family was, or if he would’ve even welcomed the help from a stranger, much like the man in the poem, but all these years later it still bothers me that I didn’t even offer my assistance. This old man has surely passed on by now and possibly never even gave this incident a second thought, but it stuck with me and still does. My wings definitely shrunk in that moment as I stood rooted to that bench on that hot summer day.
In a poem called Regret from my third book “Gather Seeds of Hope” I discuss the different types of regrets that stick with us as we go through life, including inaction regrets. These are regrets about things that we didn’t do; pursue a new job, move to a different state; ask someone out on a date. I suppose this incident falls into that category. Since that occurrence, I do try to make a more conscious effort to lend a hand when I can, or a kind smile, or even just hold the door. There are many good things we do in this world, and these things help us to earn those wings here on earth, but they’re often crowded out in our heads by the “bad” things we did, or the missed opportunities to take action. So let’s all make an effort to help out more, give a little back, and assist someone who’s struggling whenever we can; because the more good we do, the better the chance that when we get to the other side (if you are a believer in the afterlife) our wings will help carry us right through those Pearly Gates and into the wonder that lies beyond.
Earning My Wings
Today I saw an elderly man
Trying to cross the street.
Cane in left hand, bag in right,
Shuffling his feet.
The cars were losing patience
As he was slowing down their day
So I slipped up right beside him
So I could help him on his way.
He didn’t like this gesture,
As he tried to wave me aside.
I knew that my assistance
Was shameful to his pride.
But as I walked beside him,
Under a sky so blue,
“I’m trying to earn my wings,” I said,
“So you are helping me out too.”
Yesterday at the grocery counter
A young mother stood crying.
She didn’t have enough money
For the items she was buying.
She needed some medication
For her baby who was sick.
I knew that she was in a bind
So I acted pretty quick.
I handed the cashier a twenty
As they both looked at me strange.
This covered all her purchases,
And he even gave me change!
As this young mother expressed her thanks,
For she hadn’t known what to do,
“I’m earning my wings on earth” I said,
“So you’re helping me out too.”
These moments that come along in life
For us to do good things,
Are opportunities to shape our souls
So we can earn those wings.
Every day are moments
When we can really shine.
This doesn’t mean we’re angels,
Or that we are divine.
For we are only human;
Mere mortals, if you will.
These acts help shape our souls
With the kindness they instill.
For one day we will leave this world
And we will face our fate,
And our lives will be reviewed
As we approach that pearly gate.
We’ll all have the opportunity
To see our bad, along with good;
Those times we helped someone in need
By doing what we should.
And hopefully these moments
Will help to give a voice
To those times we could have done more,
Or made a better choice.
All of these are learning moments
For our souls to grow
And make an impression on this earth
With good vibes that overflow.
And all those good vibrations,
And all these acts so kind
Will make an impact on this world
And our legacy left behind.
But maybe we won’t quite earn those wings.
Maybe we’ll fall a bit short.
But hopefully at the end of our days
There’s more good than bad to report.
Maybe we’ll be a role model
To those on earth who remain.
Maybe they’ll follow our lead
And help make sunshine from rain.
Sometimes our tiny gestures
Might have a big impact.
Sometimes when we help someone
We provide a skill they lack.
And providing that small gesture,
And helping out when we can,
Helps us to earn our wings,
And may even increase their span.
That paying forward of good deeds
As each generation passes through,
Can only serve to improve the world
As others work on their wings too.
So don’t be afraid to earn those wings
While you still reside on earth.
Helping others when we can
Will only increase your worth.
But even if your focus
Is not on earning wings,
It still helps to build our souls
When we focus on good things
Like helping out our neighbors,
And contributing where we can,
The goodness flows right back to us
When we help our fellow man.
-K.A. Bloch-
© 2025
