The Five People You Meet in Heaven
Study Questions:
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What do you think of heaven?
o What was your first memory of hearing about heaven?
o What vision, conversation, or reading has influenced your understanding of
heaven the most?
o Has this book changed or altered your perception of heaven?
Eddie asks three questions to himself before he dies. How would you answer them? (p.
13) "How do people choose their final words? Do they realize their gravity? Are they fated
to be wise?"
The Blue Man said, "This is the greatest gift God can give you: to understand what
happened in your life. To have it explained. It is the peace you have been searching for"
(p. 35).
o Do you agree with this statement?
o Can we enjoy life without the explanation?
o Was this Eddie's greatest gift?
The Blue Man had forgiven Eddie before he had asked (p. 47). Is this action reserved for
heaven only, or are we truly able to forgive others who do not ask?
While deployed in the Philippines, Eddie offered "bargain prayers" to God (p. 63). Do you
think prayers like that generally work with God?
One option Rabbi Harold Kushner purposes in explaining "Why bad things happen to
good people" in his book respectively titled, is to look at it as a tapestry. Albom offers a
similar understanding by saying, "That death doesn't just take someone, it misses
someone else, and in the small distance between being taken and being missed, lives
are changed" and that "fairness does not govern life and death" (p. 48).
o Do you agree or disagree with these comments as a possible answer to this hard
question?
o How does free-will or predestination fit into this explanation?
Eddie was not content with concluding that his purpose of life was fixing rides. Yet, the
little Filipino girl expanded his conclusion by explaining it was, "Children… you keep safe"
(p. 191). How would the little Filipino girl explain your existence?
Eddie was told that sacrifice is a part of life, something to aspire to (93). Would you agree
with that?
How would you explain Eddie's faith and relationship with God, paying particular attention
to pages 25, 71, 69 and 171?
Do you agree with Eddie's "secret of heaven” regarding the meaning of life (p. 196)?
Eddie's lessons consisted of: interconnectedness, sacrifice, loyalty, love and forgiveness.
o What other lessons might be added if he met 10 people in heaven?
o If he only encountered one person in heaven, what lesson was the most
important?
Who do you think you might meet in heaven?
Group Activities:
Before working through these activities, here are some suggestions to set the atmosphere: Serve
cotton candy, hot dogs and other amusement park food. Let the smells and tastes set the mood.
Bring out the balloons, hats and of course birthday cake. Have the cake addressed to Eddie
and/or everyone at the party. Saltwater taffy in small white bags tied with a ribbon.
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Take a field trip to an amusement park, boardwalk or small adventure park. Enjoy the
rides together. Soak in the atmosphere of what Eddie experienced all his life. Then, meet
afterwards and share observations and discuss the book. If you are unable to go to a
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park, how about doing a few games in the backyard? (For example ring toss or guessing
game of some sort.)
Write letters of forgiveness. Five People will spark a memory of someone you need to
ask forgiveness or forgive, have the group spend sometime individually writing letters to
these people. Even if you are unable to reach the intended addressee, it is certainly good
to express your thoughts on paper.
Put your life into colors. Eddie realizes that all the vivid colors he was seeing were
symbolic of his emotions (p. 193). Try putting your life or phases of life, and emotions on
paper through watercolors, colored pencils or even crayon. After you have done so,
share with each other the use of colors and what they represent to each person
individually.