Faith

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Though the fig trees do not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation.
[Habakkuk:3:17-18]
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"Lord?"

"Yes, child?"

"What does this MEAN?"

"What, My precious."

"Well, it sounds like this guy
needs to get another job."

"Who, My precious?"

"The guy in this Habakkuk part:
the one with the farming issues."

"Ah. I see."

"No, really, Lord! What does
this all MEAN......besides, perhaps,
the need to hire a more
industrious sheep herder?"

"Tell Me, child."

"Eh, I dunno'."

[PATIENT SILENCE.]

"Well, I know nothin' about
fig trees. And, the only time
I was in a cow stall, I couldn't
stop from sneezing. Man, that hay
is somethin' AWFUL!"

"What else, child."

"You mean, 'Ya haven't heard
enough kvetching from me,
tonight, Lord?"

"No, My beloved."

"Oh, okay.
Well, anyway......I DON'T KNOW,
Lord! What is this ALL about?"

"Love, My child."

"LOVE? WHERE?
I don't see it: what, in
the fig blossom part?
What IS a fig tree, anyway?
There's, like, a TON of them,
all over Your Book, Lord.
(thoughtful silence)
We didn't have a whole lot'a
fig trees in West Philly."

[LAUGH.]
"But, you have seen a fig,
child. Haven't you?"

"Yeah. Once, one 'a my
students brought one to
class, from her country.
It was sticky and sweet.
It was OKAY, but give me a
chocolate sprinkled donut,
any day, 'Ya know what I mean?"

[MORE PATIENT SILENCE]

"Couple it with a hot cup a'
coffee, and you GOT somethin'."

"What does this mean, child?"

"What, Lord: You mean, about
the DONUT?"

[INFINITE PATIENT SILENCE]

"You know, they give out that
Splenda now, but you can't
beat those little pink packets.
They were the BEST.
Life's really goin' down the
toilet."

"Yes, child. I understand."

"I don't think they had sugar
in Your day, Lord. Wasn't
that invented, like,
after the Americas?"

"Yes, child.
Tell Me."

"You mean, about SUGAR?
Oh! It's GREAT!
It's WONDERFUL!
Well, except for the cavities,
but, You know, as they say,
into each life a little
dentistry must fall."

[NOD.]
"Very true, child.
Now, tell Me...."

"About Habbuk?
Well, I guess it means.....
'Ya know......"

"What, child?"

"That we should... TRUST You?"

[NOD.]
"Why is that, child?"

"Well, because, eh.......
'Ya know: You, like,
made Jupiter, and all."

"What else, child."

"And, PLUTO?
Although, I don't think
they call that a planet
anymore, Lord.
I think it's been downgraded
to a dwarf planet."

[SILENCE]
"Do you trust Me, child?"

"Eh..........yeah.
Yeah; I guess."

"Are you sure, My child?"

"Eh.......do I hav'ta be honest,
here, Lord?"

[NOD.]

"Well, I know I can trust You
to give me a lott'a AGGRAVATION,
THAT'S for sure!"

"I see I have some work to
do here, child."

"Oy vey."

[LAUGH.]
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.....He was in the stern,
asleep on the cushion;
and they woke Him and said to Him,
Teacher, do You not care if
we perish?
And He awoke and
rebuked the wind,
and said to the sea,
Peace! Be still!
And the wind ceased,
and there was great calm.
And He said to them,
Why are you afraid?
Have you no faith?
[Mark 4:38-40]


To Pumpkin, my knight in shining armor for 13 years.

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