Grief

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He shall give
His angels
charge over you.
[Matthew 4:6]
***********************
"I'm not in the mood,
for worshipping You
tonight,
Lord."

[QUIET VOICE.]
"Yes,
child.
I know."

"Yeah;
I got that Bible
study, tonight."
(Shrug.)
"I like the folks,
there. And, the
singing's nice."

[NOD.]

(Shrug.)
"We're studying the
Parables."

[NODDING.]
"What have you
learned,
My precious?"

(Disappointed shrug.)
"Eh.....if you're inherit
any money....put it in
a BANK?"
(Smile up at the ceiling.)
"....Before, you lose it
all, and go to work on a
PIG FARM?"

[PATIENT SIGH.]
"What else,
Mein kin'der."

"Huh?
Oh.
Well......"
(Squint.)
"Somthin', about
all the weeds, or
tares, or somethin'.
I didn't really get that
one; it was about the
coming Kingdom."
(Rueful smile up at the ceiling.)
I can't remember."

[PATIENT GAZE.]

(Long pause.)
"So.....eh,
were WHERE Ya,
LORD?"

[PATIENT SILENCE.]

(Lean back against chair.)
(Fold arms.)
"Ya know:
when that little GIRL
was being KILLED?"

[SILENCE.]

(Long pause.)
(Stare upwards.)
"Where WERE YA?"

"You are angry,
child."

(Frown, cynically.)
"Yeah;
we humans tend to
do that."

[SLOW NOD.]

"It's a THING,
we have."

[PATIENT SIGH.]

"....I dunno.
It's got somethin'
to do with being told,
that we have this Great
and Powerful, UnShakable,
UnStoppable, All-Loving,
Caring, and Compassionate
God.......
and,
then, we turn on the news."

[NOD.]
"I understand,
My child."

"I'm glad."
(Beligerent stare up at the ceiling.)
"I'm glad,
You understand."

[SILENCE.]

"Yeah;
I know,
I know."
(Roll eyes, with cynicism.)
"People will say,
'Oh! But, it's the SIN
in the WORLD! It's
not GOD's FAULT! HE
CAN'T DO ANYTHING
ABOUT IT!"

[PATIENT GAZE.]

"GOD JUST HAD
TO LET IT HAPPEN!
PEOPLE HAVE CHOICES!
IT'S ALL THE SIN!
THE SIN!
...IN THE WORLD!"

[SILENCE.]

(Shaking head.)
"What do Ya DO:
just SIT UP THERE,
ALL DAY?"
(Curious gaze at the ceiling.)
"Are You that WEAK,
LORD? That You can't
protect a 5 year old GIRL?"

[SILENCE.]

"Well......then,
how's that supposed
to make the REST OF US,
have any FAITH?"

[SILENCE.]

"I guess,
all that stuff about
guardian-angels....
is just a big fairy-tale;
huh, Lord?"

[SILENCE.]

"So......maybe,
You're One,
too."

"One,
what,
My beloved."

(Unimpressed shrug.)
"A Big Fairy Tale."

"I AM,
child."

(Curious look.)
"What?"

[QUIET VOICE.]
"A Grim One."
**********************
He shall give
angels charge
over you.
In their hands
they shall bear
you up,
Lest you dash
your foot
against
a stone.
[Matthew 4:6]

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