I received this email today, and thought I'd share it. I haven't been coming to this forum for long, so I hope I'm not breaking the rules, but it's a touching story, and the members of this forum would appreciate it!

17-year-old Brian Moore had only a short time to write something for a class. The subject was what Heaven was like. "I wowed 'em," he later told his father, Bruce. "It's a killer. It's the bomb. It's the best thing I ever wrote." It also was the last.

Brian's parents had forgotten about the essay and a cousin found it while cleaning out the teenager's locker at Teays Valley High School in Pickaway County. Brian had been dead only hours, but his parents desperately wanted every piece of his life near them-notes from classmates and teachers, his homework.

Only two months before, he had handwritten the essay about encountering Jesus in a file room full of cards detailing every moment of the teen's life. But it was only after Brian's death that Beth and Bruce Moore realized that their son had described his view of heaven. “It makes such an impact that people want to share it. You feel like you are there," Mr. Moore said. Brian Moore died May 27, 1997, the day after Memorial Day. He was driving home from a friend's house when his car went off Bulen-Pierce Road in Pickaway County and struck a utility pole. He emerged from the wreck unharmed but stepped on a downed power line and was electrocuted.

The Moore’s framed a copy of Brian's essay and hung it among the family portraits in the living room. "I think God used him to make a point. I think we were meant to find it and make something out of it," Mrs. Moore said of the essay. She and her husband want to share their son's vision of life after death. "I'm happy for Brian. I know he's in heaven. I know I'll see him.”

Brian's Essay: The Room...

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read "Girls I have liked." I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog System for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match.

A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching. A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I Have Betrayed." The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. "Books I Have Read," "Lies I Have Told," "Comfort I have Given," "Jokes I Have Laughed At." Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I've yelled at my brothers." Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I Have Done in My Anger", "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents." I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature. When I pulled out the file marked "TV Shows I have watched," I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of shows but more by the vast time I knew that file represented. When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts," I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded.

An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!" In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it. Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh.

And then I saw it. The title bore "People I Have Shared the Gospel With." The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand. And then the tears came. I began to weep sobs so deep that they hurt. They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key.

But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. "No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was "No, no," as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished."

I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."-Phil. 4:13

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

-- Amy (amy20013@hotmail.com), December 17, 2002

Answers

Um -- yes, it's very touching; however, according to the Urban Legends web site, here is "the rest of the story":

"Here we have a tale that contains an element of truth, but that element has almost been entirely submerged by a "truth" many apparently would prefer to believe. Moreover, that "truth" masks an unsavory reality not many know about.

Brian Moore did read this essay aloud at a meeting of Christian athletes, and he did claim to his parents that he'd written it as an assignment for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes approximately two months before his death. The 17-year-old Teay's Valley High School student (not "Teary Valley," as claimed in the e-mail) did die on 27 May 1997 in the manner described. All that is true.

However, it's the little known story behind the story that proves most worthy of comment. You see, it turns out the deceased was a plagiarist. The piece he'd claimed authorship was actually the work of Joshua Harris, and it appeared in a book Harris published before Moore died. It had debuted two years earlier, in the Spring 1995 issue of New Attitude magazine, which was then edited by Harris.

Moore's parents had no reason to suspect the work in question was not their son's, and it was read at the boy's funeral. They and other relatives and friends subsequently broadcast the essay as his work, sincerely believing that it was. Only after the piece was published in The Columbus Dispatch on the anniversary of Moore's death did the truth about its authorship become known, when readers responded with corrections that pointed the newspaper to Harris and his book.

It's ironic that an essay describing the author's sense of shame over his personal accumulation of sins would be used by another to add a few file cards to his own stash. The dead boy not only stole someone else's work but also presented it as his own before a Christian fellowship he was part of and lied to his parents about it. That's three of the ten commandments right there (stealing, not honoring parents, and bearing false witness)."

-- Christine L. :-) (christine_lehman@hotmail.com), December 17, 2002.

Dear Christine,

I hope that God is merciful and looks at Brian's heart. I'm sure when reading the material that he stole, it must have made Brian think about those things - at least I hope so.

But good does come out of evil and the story is being spread throughout the world, giving us all something to think about. God wants us to think about it - how we must be 'prepared' for we do not know the day nor the hour. So, in a way, Brian's trickery served a good purpose - even if that was not his intention.

MaryLu

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), December 17, 2002.

Agreed, MaryLu, but the problem is, the e-mail is continuing to be sent out without the explanation - which isn't fair to the original author of the story Brian stole, OR to Brian himself, whose posthumous reputation continues to be damaged every time someone finds out the whole story.

Which is why I have my e-mail filter set to HIGH!! ;-)

-- Christine L. :-) (christine_lehman@hotmail.com), December 17, 2002.

Dear Christine,

I agree with you woleheartedly, but at the same time, still choose to focus on the 'contents' of the story - which, to me, is very important. In a way, I am sorry now that I know the real story..prefer to just focus on the contents..but, knowing the real story serves its purpose too.

What does it mean to have your email filter set on high???

ML

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), December 17, 2002.

Christine,

Another thought just came to mind. Brian was 17 years old, a high school student and kids at that age do stupid things - what he did was wrong, very wrong..but he was a kid, after all and I hope that God looks at that.

I'm sure that most teachers can tell you stories about papers handed in by students who claimed they wrote it, but the teacher knows otherwise. ML

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), December 17, 2002.

I, too, am a vigilant urban myth/legend debunker. But there is one thing I still embrace about these overly directed and promulgated e- mails. That one thing is that on the rare occassion, there is some message worth considering...no matter the validity of the story or the source. And even knowing the story behind the story, as it were, with this particular e-mail, I think the underlying message is something to react to.

When you get down to it, it isn't like a stolen kidney, or getting AIDS from a needle in the coin retun slot of a public phone...or even snakes in the playscape at Burger King, is it?

-- Melissa Wilson (meanolemelissa@hotmail.com), December 17, 2002.

I understand your point, Melissa - but isn't stealing someone else's thoughts and words a pretty bad thing? Should it be condoned just because the thief happened to die?

-- Christine L. :-) (christine_lehman@hotmail.com), December 18, 2002.

Continuing my thought (the server crashed just after I posted the above - bad server, bad server!! ;-) --

if anyone wants to continue forwarding the document contained in the original e-mail, that's fine - but let them acknowledge the real author of the piece, Joshua Harris, rather than continuing to credit it to Brian Moore. Just completely erase the stuff about how Brian supposedly wrote it just before he died - because he DIDN'T.

How would you feel if you were Joshua Harris, and you received this e- mail?

-- Christine L. :-) (christine_lehman@hotmail.com), December 18, 2002.

UPDATE: After writing the above I found out that Josh Harris has his own web site, on which he discusses his books and stories. Here is what he has to say about the story that started this whole thread - enjoy!

"It's rare that a week will go by when people won't email us at joshharris.com and ask about the Brian story. We wish we could say that the whole story is an "e-rumor", but sadly part of it is true. Though Brian Moore didn't write "The Room" he really did die in a car accident at the age of 17. We believe this is an honest mistake by the family of Brian Moore that has taken on a life of its own on the internet. We extend our regrets to the Moore family at the loss of their son. And we hope that the confusion over the authorship of "The Room" won't distract people from it's message of hope and salvation through Jesus Christ."

-- Christine L. :-) (christine_lehman@hotmail.com), December 18, 2002.

Dear Christine,

Josh Harris sounds like a great man. ML

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), December 18, 2002.

Something missing from the part of the discussion I have read is that chain forwarding/mass forwarding is a violation of Netiquette and of the terms of use of most email providers. And why is this so? Because of the harm it does. Flooding causes denial of service attacks. Flooding slows service for the rest of us, and can bring servers down. When mass forwarding is reported to ISPs, they can cancel subscriptions.

Many people are unwitting dupes of control games played by twisted individuals. Those who launch hoax virus warnings and seemingly serious information about how to get gift certificates from Appleby's and saccharine stories about angel visitations or whatever may not know that they are dupes. The little misfits that dream up these scams know what buttons to push. Religious fervor, wanting something for nothing, sentimentality, desire to be helpful in warning of the viruses, whatever works.

ANY message that tells you to pass it on to X other people, or to everyone you know, or everyone you care about, represents a misuse of the medium (email). Do the math. Assume a fraction of the recips will follow instructions and pass it on. Take the numbers out several transaction layers. See the multiplier effect? Some of those dupes will post the message on lists and boards. More multipier effect. Now you know why "chain mail" is destructive.

As for the religious message contained in some of this mail--is violating the rights of ISPs and email server owners, and the terms of service of email providers, a good way to honor God or spread the gospel? The effects of such message proliferation do not inspire faith and love, in those of us who have to deal with the problems and restore services.

-- Martha Knight (martini@adelphia.net), February 26, 2003.