And
God said
Let there
be light,
and
there was
light.
[Genesis 1:3]
************************
"They tell me that
You're All MIGHTY,
LORD!"
[SILENCE.]
"So, how come that
German SHEPHERD'S
down the STREET?
At the CORNER?"
[SILENCE.]
"In the RAIN?"
[SILENCE.]
"In the COLD?"
[PATIENT GAZE.]
"Right in front a'
all those houses...
with all the fancy
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS?"
[PATIENT NOD.]
"And......he was there,
this morning....and,
he's STILL there!"
"Calm down,
My child."
"NO!"
[LOVING GAZE.]
"I'm NOT!"
"Patience, child."
"What FOR?"
"For Me,
My beloved."
"What d'Ya
MEAN?"
(Glare up at ceiling.)
Is THAT what's gonna
feed that poor DOG:
my PATIENCE?"
[GENTLE SMILE.]
"You do not have
any, My beloved."
"NO!
I DON'T!"
[GAZE UPON HIS BELOVED.]
"I CAN'T take him
in! That's why I called
the POUND!"
(Angry glare up at ceiling.)
To come pick him UP!"
[NOD.]
"Cuz, his OWNERS are
a bunch'a JACKASSES!
And, YOU don't CARE!"
[SORROWFUL GAZE.]
"He's better off DEAD!"
[SILENCE.]
"And, You don't CARE!"
[SAD SMILE.]
"It's not FUNNY, LORD!"
"You are,
My child."
(Angry smirk!)
"WHY?"
"Because....."
"Cuz, WHAT?"
[TENDER VOICE.]
"You think I
don't know."
"Know WHAT:
that there's a dog
starving, and FREEZING
to death, out THERE?"
[SORROWFUL GAZE.]
[GENTLE NOD.]
(Turn away.)
(Turn back.)
"Ya know, LORD...
EVERYBODY says
You're so MIGHTY
and POWERFUL.......!"
"Yes, child?"
(Yell up at the ceiling.)
"WELL,
I DON'T THINK SO!"
[GENTLE NOD.]
"I know."
(Punch both puny
fists at the ceiling.)
"I THINK YOU'RE
REALLY WEAK!"
(Shake one fist this time,
up at shadow on the wall.)
"I THINK YOU'RE A BIG
WEAKLING!"
(QUIET VOICE.]
"I know,
My beloved."
(Yell louder.)
"And,
STOP CALLIN' ME THAT!"
[PATIENT SILENCE.]
"There's SO MUCH
SUFFERIN' IN THE
WORLD!"
(Tearful gaze.)
"And, You're doin'
NOTHING ABOUT IT!"
[PATIENT SILENCE.]
"You're just SITTIN'
up there, in Your
IVORY TOWER! "
[GENTLE SMILE.]
"What tower is
that, My beloved?"
"YOU KNOW!"
[GENTLE NOD.]
"Ah.
I see."
"YOU DON'T SEE NOTHIN'!"
[PATIENTLY WAITING.]
"LEAVE me ALONE!"
[TENDER VOICE.]
"You don't mean that,
child."
"YEAH?
Well......
(Turn back.)
why don't You go
out THERE?
In the COLD?
And RAIN?"
(Stare at ceiling fan.)
"Where You're ....NEEDED?"
[NOD.]
[SIGH.]
"I'm going to
stay right Here,
My beloved."
(Angry yell.)
"GO AWAY!"
[LOVING GAZE.]
"I don't KNOW
what this CHRISTMAS
is about, ANYWAY!"
[PATIENT SILENCE.]
"I don't see
no' PEACE ON EARTH!"
[SILENCE.]
(Yell.)
"It's a bunch'a
MALARKY!"
[GAZE AT THE EARTH.]
[TOUCH THE COLD EAR
OF THE SHIVERING DOG OUT ON THE
STREET.]
"THAT'S what it is!"
[KNEEL BESIDE DOG.]
[GENTLE WHISPER.]
"I don't see ANYBODY GETTIN'
SAVED!"
[GENTLE CARESS.]
[CALM WHISPER.]
"Or ANYTHING!"
"Shhh,
child."
[LONG PAUSE.]
"That is why
I came."
*****************************
I am
the Light
of the world.
[John 8:12]
Read more articles by Julie Michaelson or search for articles on the same topic or others.