The Heavens are Silent? (Drabble)

"What are we to do when the Heavens are silent," the man in the suit murmured to himself as much as to anyone else who would listen amongst the group.

"Shanti, shanti, shanti," mused a second man with a grin upon his face.

"Why cry out for peace when the world is going to Hell in a handbasket," the first questioned with his eyes narrowing.

"For someone questioning why the Heavens are silent, you seem to be assured of a Hell," the second man replied.

"How can I not doubt the existence of a Hell with all that the world is going through?"

"How then can you doubt the existence of God," the second man replied with a pursing of his lips into a smile.

"Hell is easier to believe in than some sort of cosmic force for good."

"Evil does not always outshine the good in the world, no matter what your self selective news would tell you. You only believe more in evil than in good because it is what you allow yourself to see."

"Even the so-called Son of God suffered and died. What kind of Father would do that?"

"Have you ever heard the parable of the train worker that took his son to work? The train worker's son was on the tracks playing and a train was coming. He was forced to choose between his son whom he loved and the lives of the people on the train. He threw the switch and his son was killed so that the rest might be saved. That is why there is a God who would make His own Son suffer and die. So that we might live. So that we might know that suffering is not unique to us."

"It sounds sadistic to me," shrugged the first man.

"It isn't," the second man's smile finally began to fade, "Would you call a soldier who threw himself upon a grenade a sadistic man?"

"Of course not," snorted the first man as he glanced around the others gathered, "he would be a hero, right guys?"

"They won't answer you," the second man shook his head, "you have to work things out for yourself. I can help, but you need to connect the dots. Sin is the grenade, and Christ is the soldier who gave His life."

"How can you be so sure of all that crap," the first man kicked at the dirt and glared at the non-responsive others, "How can you be so sure when the Heavens are so silent!? We live in an era when God hides His face if He even exists!"

"God hides His face," the second man shook his head once more, "God does not hide His face. He is there in the Bread of Life each day. He is there when the orphan and widow are helped. He is there as the little acts of kindness are made. He is there when the child dies alone. He is there when the job is lost. He is there when the disease is diagnosed. We just need to know what to look for."

"So you're trying to sell me on some sort of hippie silver lining bullshit?"

"I'm trying to sell you on the Trinity," the second man smiled, "you feel the flames licking your feet. The rain does not touch you, yet you do not realize these things. For you believe, but not truly."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that before you can follow Him, you must die to self. Your ears can not hear, your eyes can not see. The Heavens are not silent...you just lack the ability to see and to hear."

"Listen man, I go to church every Sunday!"

"Do you know how often I hear that," the second man gave a friendly chuckle, "all the time. It's not about going through the motions and then decrying God for His silence. It's about embracing Him, living for Him, allowing the Spirit that moved upon the waters to move through you. It's about taking Him within you physically and spiritually. It's about His glory, not yours. So stop demanding a sign from above, and start demanding one of yourself!"

"Who the Hell do you think you are buddy? Who are you to demand anything of me! Why aren't these people saying anything?"

"So much anger," chuckled the second man as the group began to disperse, "turn that into a righteous fury for the Lord. You'll be happy that way. As to what this whole meeting has been...Hebrews, chapter thirteen, verse two. Look it up William."

"I never told you my name," the first man felt the small jolt of fear and shock go through his body. Who was this creepy guy?

"No you did not," smiled the second man as he walked away, "walk with God. Go and find your faith. Go and find His Church. The Heavens are no more silent than they were in the days of ancient Israel."

As the man turned one last time around the corner and out of view, William Lasternowski could have sworn that he saw an animal face staring at him from the back of the head, or was it the side?