Gospel

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I tell you
on the day of judgment
men will render account
for every
careless word
they utter.
[Matthew 12:36]
***********************
"Lord?
Can I talk to
Lord JESUS?"

"Yes, child.
[SMILE.]
Here I AM."

"Eh,
eh......."

[GENTLE SMILE.]
"Yes?"

"Eh......
I'm not really COMFORTABLE
talkin' to You,
Lord Jesus.
(Squirm.)
Can I go back to the
Mean Jewish FATHER?
(Hopeful gaze to ceiling.)
I'm just more......COMFORTABLE
with Him!"

[PATIENT SILENCE.]

"LORD?"

[PATIENT NOD.]
"Yes, child?"

"Is that YOU?"

[SMILE.]
"Yes, Mein kinder."

(Squint.)
"I don't know how the
Christians do it.
(Thoughtful squint.)
This is too confusing."

[SMILE!]

"Anyway, have You
SEEN this PART?"

"Which Part,
precious."

"THIS ONE!
Up THERE!"

"Where.
[GENTLE NOD.]
Ah.
Yes.
There."

"YEAH!
THAT one!"

[NOD.]

"Well....
what does this MEAN?
(Sip some Walmart grapefruit sparkling beverage.)
HUH?
Are we gonna have to EXPLAIN
every single word we SAID?"

[PATIENT SIGH.]
"What does It say,
My child."

"Well; it kinda looks
that way.
(Grimmace.)
So.......like, WHEN is this
all gonna HAPPEN?
(More grimmacing.)
After we DIE?"

[PATIENT FROWN.]
"What does it say,
My beloved."

"Eh.....yeah;
it kinda LOOKS that way.
So....what d'Ya gonna DO?
Sit there with a Big Book,
with.......like, my NAME on IT?
That has this Big LIST?"

[PATIENT SILENCE.]

(Whiny voice of a child who didn't get
his nap that afternoon.)
"L....O....R....D!
You keep TELLING ME
to read Your W....O....R.....D!"

"Yes, My beloved.
[PATIENT PAUSE.]
What of it."

"Well.......but, then
I READ this STUFF,
I get really ANXIOUS!"

[GENTLE CHUCKLE.]

"I'm afraid to LIVE!
Now, I'm afraid to DIE!
Am I really gonna have to
EXPLAIN every thing I SAID?
and.......DID?
YIKES!
ECH!"

[PATIENT SHAKE OF THE HEAD.]

"I thought this Part was
all good NEWS?"

"It is, child."

"Uh, UH!"

"Hm, hm."

"UH, uh!"

[PATIENT SIGH.]

(More whining.)
"But, L....O....R....D!
EVERYTHING is
CARELESS!
WHOever said anything
CAREFUL?
That's DUMB!"

[PATIENT PAUSE.]
"Tell Me about
the Good News,
My beloved."

(Squirm.)
"Eh.......
I dunno."

"Yes.
You do."

(Look away.)
"Neah.
(Shrug.)
Well.....sort of.
(Grimmace.)
But, I don't wanna
go into it, here.
Is it that IMPORTANT?"

[PATIENCE OF A LOVING FATHER.]

"Can't we TALK about...
something ELSE?"

[GENTLE NOD.]
[SIGH.]

"Eh......so,
have You been watchin'
the OLYMPICS?"

[SMILE!]
"Have you, child?"

(Indifferent shrug.)
"Neah.
(Make a face.)
I don't like sports.
Never did.
Well; (thoughtful pause.)
except for the Phillies."

[SILENCE.]

(Silence.)
"My dad liked the Phillies."

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

"Well, I guess
THAT's good news, Lord."

[GENTLE VOICE.]
"What, child?"

"That You know."

[GENTLE NOD.]
*************************
I am the Lord
your God
from
the land of Egypt;
you know no God
but Me,
and
besides Me
there is
no Savior.
[Hosea 13:4]

_____________________
In memory;
I love you, Dad.

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