You who live in Heaven
hear the prayers of those of us who live on Earth,
who are afraid of being left by those we love
and who get hardened in the hurt;
Do You remember when You lived down here,
where we all scrape
to find the strength to ask for daily bread?
Did You forget about us after You
had flown away?
I memorized every word You said.
Still I'm so scared I'm holding my breath
while You're up there just playing hard to get.
You who live in radiance
hear the prayers of those of us who live in skin.
We have a love that's not as patient as Yours was,
still we do love now and then.
Did You ever know loneliness?
Did You ever know need?
Do You remember just how long a night can get
when you are barely holding on
and your friends fall asleep
and don't see the blood that's running in your sweat?
Will those who mourn be left uncomforted
while You're up there just playing hard to get?
I know You bore our sorrows,
and I know You feel our pain.
and I know that it would not hurt any less
even if it could be explained.
And I know that I am only lashing out
at the One who loves me most.
So after I have figured this all out,
what I really need to know...
Is if You who live in eternity
hear the prayers of those of us who live in time.
We can't see what's ahead and we
cannot get free from what we've behind.
I'm reeling from these voices
that keep screaming in my ear,
all these words of shame and doubt, blame and regret.
I can't see how You're leading me
unless You've led me here,
to where I'm lost enough to let myself be led.
So You've been here all along, I guess.
It's just Your way, and You are just plain hard to get.