Storm Stories: Even In This Dark World

As we near the halfway mark of the month, we have an accomplished poet, a gifted speaker, and a talented writer who offers a unique presentation for us today.  This Storm StoryTeller speaks for himself…

SOMETHING COMPLETELY ABSURD

by ric booth

Once upon a time there was a very small child.
So small in fact, that no one could see the child.
No one was remotely aware of the child.
Except for One.
He already named the child.
He is busy weaving the small child together.
Strand by Strand. Cell by cell.
Painstakingly creating something
where once there was nothing.
He is getting ready for something.
Something absurd.
But for now, no one knew.
————————————————————
Once upon a time there was a young woman.
The young woman is very beautiful.
And practical and sensible.
She has a loving family.
A wonderful boyfriend.
Life is fun and exciting.
So, of course, all of this is about to change.
Radically. Painfully. Unexpectedly. Unpredictably. Irrevocably.
But no one knew.
Except for One.
He knew everything that was yet to be
as though he had written it down long ago.
He is busy weaving the changes
into the young woman’s life…
inside her.
He is getting ready.
for something absurd.
————————————————————
Once upon a time there was a father.
Blessed with a beautiful daughter.
The father is sensible and practical and responsible.
The father loved life.
Life is good.
So, of course, all this is about to change.
Radically. Painfully. Unexpectedly.
Unpredictably. Irrevocably.
But for now, no one knew.
Except for One.
He knew everything that was yet to be
as though he had written it down long ago.
He is busy weaving the changes.
He is getting ready.
for something absurd.
————————————————————
And now was the time.

One day the beautiful young woman
feels very sick.
She is late. 
She fears the worst
is confirmed.
The knowledgeable doctor
prescribes a sensible treatment;
a practical solution.
So the young woman and the doctor
set up the appointment
to remove this untimely growth.
————————————————————
Yet He continues weaving the small child together.
Your see, He is getting ready.
For something absurd.
————————————————————
It was the sensible and practical thing to do.
She was definitely not ready.
And things had been going so well.
Afterwards, all their lives
would go back to normal.
The way it used to be.

Now the father tried
to listen. And failed.
And cried. And talked.
And prayed. And cried.
And reasoned. And failed.
And argued. And cried.
The father knew
things would never go back to the way they used to be.
He knew his child’s life is forever changed.
Radically. Painfully. Unexpectedly. Unpredictably. Irrevocably.

The mourning of the appointment arrives at the clinic
with the young woman.

And now the father
demands that He do something! Now!
Then the father pleads. Please! Now?
Then the father surrenders.
And the clock stops.
It is only then the father hears Him.
“Go to you daughter.”

“Go?
In there?
Me?
NO!
That’s the last place on earth
I am supposed to be!
I cannot go in there!
I won’t.
No!”

But He is not requesting.
He is not discussing.
He is not even explaining.

So the father
parks outside
the clinic
grudgingly
walking
towards the door.
Each step
heavier than the last.
He hesitates at the door.
He considers turning around…
just as the door opens automatically.
“How convenient,” the father thought.
He walks in
and asks for his daughter
by name.

Surely, the procedure is finished by now.

The staff leads the father
to the pre-op room with many beds.
Many waiting.
As tears fill his eyes.
He stops a nurse and again,
asks for his daughter by name.
The nurse points him
toward one of the curtain enclosed beds.

the father opens the curtain
and sees his child…
crying.
————————————————————
The beautiful young woman
is getting anxious.
The doctor is late.
She is waiting her turn.
In her bed.
It is then she hears
Could it be?
Would he come here?
Into this place?
Again she hears his voice.
Asking for her by name.
He is so close.
“I must be hearing things,”
But he calls her by name!
She sits straight up.
Watching the shadow
approach the curtain.
She begins to shake.
Her eyes blur as tears come.
The curtain opens.
And standing right there
Daddy…Crying.

The father met her eyes just as they released their tears.
“What are you doing here?” she asks.

Now the father
planned many things to say.
some persuasive words…
an impassioned plea.
But all of that is forgotten.
None of that matters.
Tears fill his voice when he replies,
“Love”

They hug.
They kiss.
They talk about
better days
Days gone by.
They reminisce.
They laugh.
And they wait.

The doctor arrives.
The time arrives.
They wheel the young woman
into the room.
The father goes outside.
To cry.
Again.
————————————————————
Once upon a time… no, 
Always there has been, is, and will be Him.
Our Father.
In heaven.
Great is His name.
For when He comes
His will will be done.
Here even in this dark world.
Just like heaven.
You see, He loves life.
He is life.
He always knew
what he would do.
Where he would go.
He knew all that was,
all that is,
and all that will be.
As though he had written it down long ago.
He continues weaving…
He is getting ready…
For something complete absurd.
————————————————————
In the room, the staff is ready.
The doctor enters.
The young woman turns her head
and says something
to the doctor
something unexpected…
something completely absurd.
————————————————————
The father walks into the recovery area.
The father’s head is low.
“Dad…”
Looking up their eyes met.
“I didn’t do it.”
“You… you didn’t do it?”
“I decided I’m going to have this baby.”
They hug.
And cry.
The father is curious.
Why would she go this far
only to stop it at the last moment?
Why?
Love.
————————————————————
He came as a child and as a father into
this clinic we like to call home.
Where His children abort their own lives
without a second thought.
He was in this place.
The last place you would expect to see him.
It’s completely and totally absurd.
The angels cried out
at the sight of
the Son of God
here as the Son of man!
He came here.
To be with us;
with you;
with me.
He calls out our names.
We’ve heard him.
We’ve felt him.
We’ve denied him.
We refuse believe our ears.
We tell ourselves not to fall for it.
Not to fall for Him.
It is just our imagination.
He would never come here!
But He continues weaving changes
in our very lives
He is ready now…
to do something completely absurd.
He steps right up
to our sin clad cell
to set us free.
To show us life. To show us truth.
To show us
the way out of this mess we’ve gotten ourselves into.
As the curtain opens we see him.

And our eyes lock with his.
With tears streaming down
we ask him one question,
“What are you doing here?”

“Love”