Prayers

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And
God said
Let there be
lights
in the firmament
of the heavens
to separate
the day from the
night;
and let them
be
for signs
and for seasons
and for days
and years.
[Genesis 1:14]
*************************
"Hey, LORD?
Are You listening to
everybody's PRAYERS,
TONIGHT?"

[SILENCE.]
[WATCH THE EARTH
TURNING ON ITS AXIS
FROM SPACE.]

"Ya know: being with
the new YEAR, and all......"

[GAZE INTO THE HEART
OF THE SUN.]
[CALM NOD.]

"Yeah; a lotta people
in our country are
scared to DEATH."

[CURIOUS GAZE.]
"Why,
dear child?"

(Squint up at ceiling.)
"WHAT?"
(Roll eyes dramatically.)
(Open big mouth in consternation.)
WHERE have You BEEN?"

[CALM VOICE.]
"Right Here,
My beloved."

"WHERE?"

[CALM NOD.]
"Right Here,
My child."

(Roll of the eyes.)
(Smirk.)
(Snort.)
"Well.........wherever
HERE is, it must be
really GREAT!"

[CALM NOD.]
[GAZE.]
[TOUCH THE TIP OF
THE NORTH POLE AS
IT SPINS WITH THE
EARTH.]

"So........what's the best
way to PRAY, LORD?"

"To Me,
child."

(Chuckle!)
"I don't MEAN that!
I mean......Ya know:
like, PHYSICALLY?"

[ALL-KNOWING SMILE!]
"With all your heart,
My child."

(Impatient shake of the
scruffy head.)
"I don't MEAN that!"
(Close eyes in frustration.)
"I mean......like, Ya know:

With my hands CLASPED
together TIGHTLY
hurting my KNUCKLES?
Hands........STRAIGHT UP,
like I'm trying to catch
a pile of LAUNDRY
that somebody's THROWIN'
at me.....from the SECOND
FLOOR?
Palms pointed TOGETHER....?
As if.... I'm tryin' to SMASH a
WATER FILLED BALLOON?"

[BURST OUT LAUGHING!]
[WATCH AN ASTRONAUT
ON THE SPACE STATION
CLAP AS THE COMPUTER
CLOCK TURNS TO MIDNIGHT,
AND TO THE NEW YEAR.]

"WELL?
What's the best WAY?"

[QUIET VOICE.]
"This Way,
child."

"WHICH WAY?"
(Impatient look up at ceiling.)
"NOTHIN' I DO WORKS!"

[CALMY NOD.]
[LISTEN TO A CHILD
PRAYING FROM HIS
BED, IN ISRAEL.]

"It doesn't matter
WHAT I DO!"

[GAZE DOWN AT
BELIGERENT CHILD
IN SAN ANTONIO*.]
[PATIENT SIGH.]

"EVERYBODY always
says..... PRAY!"

[PATIENT NOD.]
[LISTEN TO TIME
SQUARE IN NEW YORK
CITY.]

"But......it doesn't DO
NOTHIN'!"

"That's not
true,
My beloved."

"YES!
IT IS!"

"No,
My precious."

(Yell impatiently at spot
over ceiling lamp.)
"IS TOO!"

[CURIOUS, LOVING LOOK.]
"How do you
know,
My precious?"

(Kvetchy, ornery look.)
"Cuz, nothin'
ever comes TRUE!"

[CHUCKLE.]
"Am I your
Genie,
child?"

(Snort.)
(Wave hands, dramatically
[not in prayer but in sarcasm.].)
"Obviously NOT!"

[PATIENT FROWN.]
"You still don't know
Me, child."

(Shrug.)
"Well, I've been on this
mishugas** EARTH for
goin' on 53 years....!"

[CALM NOD.]

"SO?
I oughta know Ya,
a LITTLE,
by NOW."

[NOD.]
[GENTLE GAZE.]
"But,
you don't,
little one."

(Shrug.)
"I know what
Ya CAN'T do."

[SILENCE.]

(Shrug.)
(Frown.)
(Mumble.)
(Murmur.)
"Ya can't answer PRAYERS."
(Look away.)
(Mumble.)

[RUMBLE.]
"WHAT WAS THAT."

(Mumble.)
"I didn't say nothin'."

[PATIENT GAZE AT
HIS STARS IN THE
JANUARY SKY. ]
[WATCH A BIRD SLEEPING
UP IN AN EVERGREEN TREE
IN PHILADELPHIA.]

"I'm not a KID
anymore, Lord!
MAYBE, I've just...
SEEN too much!"

"You're
My child.
[LONG PAUSE.]
"And
you haven't
yet
seen Me."
*************************
Surely
I am
coming
soon.
[Revelation 22:20]
________________________
*Home of the author.
**Yiddish: 'crazy'.
________________________
May all of us,
this new year,
turn to
Christ Jesus
as our Savior.

In memory:
January 1, 2006.
I love you, Dad.

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