Out of the stillness came a voice,
A burst of words and emotions,
Strident, loud and angry.
A voice calling out some sort of peril,
With arms flailing, words raucous, brazen, daring!
I sat listening intently in awed silence.
The noise and commotion went on and on,
Agitation held sway!
He seemed to be accusing us all of some unknown evil deed,
Crying out to all , “Stop, stop, you must stop!”
Then as rapidly as it had started, all became quiet.
The cascading words ceased!
The scene changed.
A totally new act emerged.
A young girl pleading, pleading to speak.
The answer came by expression, frustration, hesitation.
Her father gave no encouragement, none at all.
A young girl, then, held in her father’s arms, weeping, wailing,
Dissolving to the floor in an agony of disappointment and grief!
Again, all was quiet.
The drama ended.
The benediction was given,
The worship service was over.
(February 2000)