Medvedev Dmitriy: http://www.proza.ru/2013/04/11/1299
An angel residing at the distribution station looked through the life of a young soul quickly and made some notes in his journal.
“So, it’s your first reincarnation, you had a fairly modest life and have committed no serious sins. Therefore, I believe that this will be the right thing for you.” With those words he gave the soul a rough wooden cup. “Now go see the Creator and good luck to you in the next life!”
The bright soul looked bemusedly at the gained object and found itself a spot at the end of the line to see God. There were many souls, and each had its own vessel of varying value and volume. Somebody held up proudly a crystal chalice, another regarded his patterned phial with fascination, someone waved his golden dish around without interest and someone simply sat on a small keg.
There were light souls and dark souls, those experienced and those completely without, but our hero couldn’t see any connection between the quality of the crockery and its owner. Deep in those thoughts it came before the Creator.
“Tell me, oh Great One,” It addressed God. “What did I do to deserve such a cup? Didn’t I earn something better?”
“Don’t value the life by the cup in which it’s poured.” Came the answer. “The golden dish is expensive, but it’s cumbersome and hard to drink from. Do you see the chipped edge of the crystal chalice? Each time it will leave a deep cut. The wooden keg leaks and it will take time before its planks will grow and hold the poured drink properly. And a refined shot glass made of Bohemian glass it too small. What you’ve got is a simple, but honest cup, which can bring you joy with each given drop. Tell me only what kind of a life would you like me to pour you, what would you like to taste this time?
The soul thought about it for a short while and replied:
“I was a good child, and as such tried to follow all your commandments and live justly. Now, as a teenager, I want to try something new, and maybe a drop of something forbidden. Will you allow me to have some wild living?
“Of course,” God replied with a smile and filled the cup to the brim. “I like your openness and search for new things. That’s why I’ll tell you another word of wisdom: it doesn’t matter what you get in your cup. The only thing that matters is how you treat it, for I pour the life for everyone from the same vat.”