In the evening
quails came up
and covered the camp;
and in the morning
dew lay round
about the camp.
And when the dew had gone up,
there was on the face of
the wilderness,
a fine, flake-like thing,
fine as hoarfrost
on the ground.
[Exodus 16:13-14]
******************************
"Here's my list, Lord!"
"What is this, My precious."
"My LIST!
MY LIST!"
[NOD.]
"Ah.
Yes, I see."
"Well?
READ it!"
[NOD.]
"Hm, hm."
(enthusiastic nod)
"Yeah, Lord!
I got this
idea, from
one 'a the
other
WRITERS!
(smile)
Isn't it
GREAT?"
[SILENCE.]
"Hm."
"WELL?
When am I gonna
get it BACK?"
"Back from what, My child."
"Aw, come ON, Lord!
It's my LIST!
How long are Ya gonna
KEEP it?"
[PATIENT SILENCE.]
"When can I expect
to have it BACK, Lord:
a couple DAYS?
a MONTH?
two WEEKS?"
[FROWN.]
"We can go over now,
My precious."
"SURE THING, Lord!
OKAY!
This is GREAT!
Where d'Ya wanna
START?"
[OMINOUS PAUSE.]
"How 'bout number FOUR?
I really like THAT one!"
"No."
"Aw! Come ON!
Can't we at least
DISCUSS it?"
"No."
(downcast sigh)
"HEY!
Why NOT?"
"'Cuz.
I said so."
(pout)
[STERN FROWN.]
"What's this number 8
about, child."
"Lem'me see, Lord;
oh, Ya mean, THAT one?"
[SLOW NOD.]
"Come on, Lord.
Come ON!
I'm already past
HALF a CENTURY!"
"So.
So, what."
"Aw, please?
PLEASE?
Aw!
Come on!
How come
Ya say yes to
everybody ELSE?"
"No.
[PAUSE.]
I said no.
And, that's final."
(more pouts)
"Well......how about
number SIXTEEN?"
[LONG SILENCE.]
"Well, Lord?
Are Ya at least
THINKING
about it?
Huh?"
[NOD.]
"WELL?"
"Read My Word, child."
"Oh. Ya mean this part:
I wait for the Lord,
my soul waits.
[Psalms 130:5]"
[NOD.]
"Yeah; but, LORD!
Don't LISTEN
to my SOUL!
Listen to ME!
My SOUL doesn't
know WHAT it
wants!"
"Yes, child.
Ah, yes.
It does."
*************************
There was on the face
of the wilderness
a fine flake-like thing....
When the people of Israel
saw it, they said....
What is it?
.....And Moses said to them,
Is it the bread
which the Lord
has given to you
to eat.
[Exodus 16:14-15]
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