Faith

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Is not God
high
in the heavens?
[Job 22:12]
*************************
"Are You THERE, LORD?"

"I'm right Here, child."

"I don't BELIEVE You, LORD!"

[LOVING GLANCE.]
"Why not, child."

"CUZ!"

[GENTLE VOICE.]
"Cuz why,
My child?"

"Well, just look at what's goin'
on in CHINA! It's AWFUL!!"

[NOD.]
"Yes, My child."

"Well......how can Ya let somethin'
like that HAPPEN?
(Squint.)
(Spoon up Chef Boyardi Ravioli.)
[Ravioli is just warm, but
author is too lazy to put it
back in the microwave for a
second go-round.]
What's WRONG with You,
ANYHOW?"

"Child, to Whom are you
SPEAKING?"

"I dunno, Lord.
(Set bowl down for cat to lick.)
Hey, LORD?
Did'Ja ever eat RAVIOLI,
in Your DAY?"

[PATIENT SIGH.]

"I guess not, huh.
I don't think Italian food
was INVENTED yet.
(Smile up at corner of ceiling.)
That's too bad; maybe,
that's why Y'ur so grumpy
all the time, huh?"

[MORE PATIENT SIGHING.]

"Hey, LORD?"

"Yes, My kinder."

"How do I know You EXIST?
Maybe, Y'ur just a Big Figment
of my IMAGINATION!"

[PATIENT NOD.]
"Perhaps so,
My kinder."

"WELL?
I don't understand why
You're being such a WEENIE?"

[LAUGH!]
"About what, My precious?"

"About EVERYTHING!
How come Ya haven't helped
us out, with those evil
OIL guys, LORD?
Why don't Ya just SOCK it
TO 'EM?
SMACK 'em UPSIDE the HEAD?
Show 'em Who's BOSS!
(Punch at the air, like Rocky Balboa
when he was just startin' to
train, back in Philly:
around the Philadelphia Art Museum.)
I'm ASHAMED 'a You!
THAT'S what!"

[PATIENT NOD.]
"I understand you,
My beloved."

(Impatient grimmace.)
And, what's with all those poor
people in CHINA, LORD?
What: have You FORGOTTEN
all ABOUT THEM?"

[PATIENT SILENCE.]

"HEY! We're all a bunch
of helpless HUMANS,
down HERE!
And, You ain't doin'
NOTHIN' ABOUT IT!"

[SILENCE.]

"WHAT?
(Make face up at air vent.)
Have You gone OFF?
And, LEFT us to a lesser.......?"

[RUMBLE!]
"What, CHILD?"

(Sink low into old wooden
chair by the computer.)
"Eh....nothin."

[SOFT RUMBLE.]
"WHAT was that,
child?"

"HUH?
(Bite lower lip, still
tasting of Chef Boyardi Ravioli.)
I didn't say nothin'!"

[NOD.]
[SMILE.]
"Tell Me."

"WHAT?
(Look away from air vent.)
(Bite upper lip.)
(Close eyes.)
I didn't say nothin', Lord."

"I heard you, child!"

"Well, maybe Y'ur HEARING
things, Lord! Cuz, I didn't
SAY nothin'!"

[SLOW NOD.]
"Hm, hm."

"WHAT?
It was all in Your IMAGINATION!"

"WHAT was, child?"

"Ya know: that You
thought I said......
eh....somethin' like:
'To a lesser God!'
(Squeamish shrug of shoulders.)
(Big toothy smile.)
Ya know: somethin' like that!"

[NOD.]
"Ah;
[ALL KNOWING LOOK.]
I SEE."

"Hey, Lord!
YOU know I'd never say
anything like THAT."
(Big smile!)

[SLOW FROWN.]
"Hm, hm."

"Well, what's wrong with THAT?
HEY! Wasn't that the TITLE
of an award-winning MOVIE?
How come THOSE guys get
to say it, and I DON'T?
HUH?
Why NOT?"

"That was different, child."

"Uh, UH!
Was NOT!"

"Yes.
It was, child."

"NO!
(Fold arms.)
(Stick tongue out at the air vent.)
WAS NOT!"

[NOD.]
"Hm, hm."

"WELL, I SAY it WASN'T!
And, I'm the one who
saw the MOVIE!
So THERE!"

[CURIOUS SMILE.]
"What makes you think
I don't see everything,
My child?"

"Well, HECK, Lord!
Gee, You can't even stop
a little EARTHQUAKE!
Or, beat up a bunch'a
nasty OIL GUYS!
How can I expect Ya
to see every
Hollywood MOVIE?"

[SAD GLANCE.]
"I do see everything,
My beloved."

"Nuh, uh!"

"Yes, child.
[LONG PAUSE.]
Oh, yes.
I do."
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Then the Lord
answered Job
of the whirlwind....
Where were you
when I
laid
the foundation
of the
earth?
[Job 38:1-4]

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