Healing

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That it would please
God
to crush me,
that He would let
loose His hand
and cut me off.
This would be
my consolation;
I would even
exult in pain
unsparing;
for I have not
denied the words
of the Holy One.
[Job 6:9-10]
******************************
"Lord.....are You trying to
PURGE me?"

[GENTLE VOICE.]
"No, My sweet child."

"Well......then, maybe You
can help me get rid of all this PAIN?"

[NOD.]
"Some things take time,
child."

"Yeah.
(Kvetchily roll eyes to ceiling.)
But....I thought You......did,
like, MIRACLES...and stuff."

[GENTLE CHUCKLE.]
"What are you doing,
right now, little one?"

"Eh.....sittin' on a old pillow,
smelling of Bengay...
(Grimmace!)
...sipping an iced tea bottle
full of ice water, downing
aspirin, and ......eh, talkin'
to YOU."
(Kvetchy frown up to ceiling.)

"And, ten YEARS, ago?"

(Grimmace up at ceiling!)
"ECH!
You really know how to STICK
it to somebody.....DON'T Ya?"

[GENTLE NOD.]
"I love you, child."

(Frown.)
(Rub aching back.)
(Grimmace.)
"Well......eh, I would'a
been sittin' in bed,
watching QVC, and
buyin' a bunch 'a stupid stuff
that I didn't need."

[SOLEMN NOD.]

"And having a severe migraine,
over a horribly messed-up marriage."

[NOD.]
"Yes, child."

"And......my Big Bible would've
been locked up:
in a cabinet downstairs,
somewhere.
(Thoughtful pause.)
It was pristine white leather,
and sitting nicely in its big,
original box.
(Painful pause.)
I think...yeah; the wrapping
was still on it."

[NOD.]
[GENTLE VOICE.]
"And, where is It, now,
My beloved?"

(Look over to the right.)
"Eh.....well, it's right here.
Next to my computer.
My black cat is sitting on It."

[GENTLE SMILE.]

"The fancy cover's got a bunch
of duct-tape on it."
(Squint.)
And, there's ice cream stains,
and some indefinable other
stains on the white cover."

[SOLEMN NOD.]

"And.....eh, some of its pages are
wrinkled, coffee and iced tea
stained, and even ripped."

[WISE NOD.]
"And,
Where is the box, Mein kinder?"

"I dunno, Lord."
(Look up at ceiling fan.)
"WHY?
Do Ya NEED IT?"

[GENTLE SMILE.]

"HUH?
Cuz, Ya know: I can always
get Ya one, from the grocery store!"

[CHUCKLE.]

"What size d'Ya NEED?"

[SMILE!]

"HUH?"

[LAUGH!]

"What d'Ya NEED a BOX
for.....ANYWAY, LORD?"
Is there a stray CAT,
Ya wanna GIVE ME?"

[GENTLE SMILE.]
"No, Mein kinder."

"So......why did'Ya ask
me where the BOX was?"

"Because, Mein kinder.
[PAUSE.]
The most important thing...."

(Grimmace at back pain.)
(Shift in chair painfully.)
"Yeah, Lord?"
(Grimmace!)
....that I DON'T know where
it IS?"

[SLOW NOD.]

(Painful pause.)
"Hey, LORD?"

"Yes, My beloved?"

(Grunt from another back spasm.)
"Can You help me get rid of
this PAIN?
(Frown!)
I've looked EVERYWHERE,
but I can't find that
darn HEATING pad!
(Squirm painfully.)

"Go to sleep, child."

"Yeah, but......."

"I am with you,
always."

"Yeah, but.....couldn't You,
like, send down one of Your
angels to give me a back RUB?"

[GENTLE CHUCKLE.]

"Hey, how about archangel MICHAEL?
He's a big, handsome, Jewish
angel, LORD! HE could rub
my back. FOR ME!"

[CHUCKLE.]
"Go to bed,
sweet child."

(Disappointed frown.)

[LOVING GAZE.]
"I am with you."

"Even in my PAIN?"

[GENTLE NOD.]

"Even in my DISAPPOINTMENT?"

[INPERCEPTABLE NOD.]

"Even when I don't have any
ANGELS to COMFORT me?"

[WISE GLANCE.]
"What DID you find,
My precious?"

"Eh..., Ya mean, while I
was searching for that stupid
HEAT pad?"

[NOD.]

(Uncomfortable shift in chair.)
(Painful grunt.)
Well, in one the cabinets..."

[GENTLE VOICE.]
"Yes?"

"Eh....
(Frown, while rubbing Bengay
into lower back.)
well, I found an old CD
I hadn't listened to, in a
long time."

[NOD.]
"Ah.
I see."

"Yeah..
(Rubbing in more Bengay.)
(Cat sitting atop Big Bible
sneezes loudly.)
It was a worship CD that somebody
at church gave me."

"Ah."

"Yeah.
I don't buy CD's, myself:
too expensive."

[NOD.]

"LORD!
(Twist painful back to peer up at ceiling.)
SO?
WHERE ARE my ANGELS?
I never SEE THEM....at ALL!"

[GENTLE VOICE.]
"You don't need to
see them, child."
It is not important....
just like the box,
which holds your Bible."
*******************************
What is my strength,
that I should wait?
And what is my end,
that I should be
patient?
Is my strength the
strength of stones
or is my flesh bronze?
In truth I have no help
in me,
and any resource is driven
from me.
[Job 6:11-13]

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