God was missing for six days.

Eventually, Michael the Archangel found him resting on the seventh day and inquired, 'Where have you been?'

God smiled and pointed down through the clouds.

‘Look, Michael. Look what I've made. 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 place to test balance.'

‘Balance?' answered Michael. ‘I'm confused.'

God pointed 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 here I've placed a continent of pale-skinned people and over there is a continent of dark-skinned people. Balance in all things.'

God continued pointing to different countries.

‘This one will be extremely hot, while this one will be very cold and covered in ice.'

The Archangel, impressed by God's work, then pointed to a land area and said, 'What's that one?'

'That's Washington State, the most glorious place on earth. There are beautiful mountains, rivers and streams, lakes, forests, hills and plains. The people from Washington State are going to be handsome, modest, mostly intelligent, humorous and they are going to travel the world.’

‘They will be extremely sociable, hardworking, high achieving and known throughout the world as diplomats, carriers of peace and producers of software,’ God explained.

Michael gasped in wonder and admiration, then asked, 'But what about balance, God? You said there would be balance.'

God smiled. ‘There is another Washington, and wait until you see the idiots I put there!’