Parting The Waters

  A child asked, where was God
  when the Red Sea waters drowned
  the Pharaoh’s men? Never mind
  Moses and the Pharaoh,
  where was God for the soldiers
  who had no choice but to do
  what they were told to do?
  where was God for those
  who didn’t know the rules
  of Passover, whose children
  were killed for the ignorance
  of their parents?

  This from the mouth of a baptized babe:
  Where? Where was God
  for the unchosen, those
  who were drowned before they had
  a chance to be baptized?
  God leads his sheep to drink
  from still waters, but sends
  his enemies to drown in
  a stormy sea,
  but where was God for the soldiers
  without a promised land?
 
  This from a little lamb, carried
  so long in the shepherd’s arms:
  I do believe in God
  who created all water
  and quenches all thirst
  and cleanses all impurities,  but where was God
  in the desert and the dirt
  of those who did not know
  where to turn
  when the impartial waters fell?
 
  This from a child who turns to me,
  and what am I to say?
  My mouth, my faith is parched
  and dry and without words,
  except to admit how much
  I do not know,
  but I try to find words anyway:
  Let it be said that in this house
  we talk about God,
  and every thought is a prayer.