Is that you, God?

Are you there, God? It’s me, Q… Can you hear me? Sometimes I feel like you’ve forgotten about me. I’m actually quite sure that you have. I spend all of my time here, in the dark, alone. No one cares about me and I’m not sure what I’ve done to deserve this.

There was a time when I had others near me. Many of them I cared about greatly, and they cared about me, but as time goes on, you’ve taken them all away from me. One by one, they’re lifted into the air, and now only I remain.

I’m not sure how much longer I can endure this. How much longer should I have to, God? I’m getting old, and I’m lonely, and I long for your light to arrive once again from above. Then it does, and I rejoice and think, “Finally! He sees me! He wants me! He hasn’t forgotten about me!” but alas, my heart is broken once more as I’m left behind.

I think about my time in the field when I was surrounded by everyone I loved. It was a simpler time; harder, yes, but still much better than this. At least I could see the sun and feel its warmth, hot as it was some days. I was young and green, and wasn’t sure what I would become. Life was full of wonder and hope; it was scary, though, too.

One day, I witnessed the massacre of my siblings by wild animals. Enormous beasts with monstrous teeth devoured them whole in a matter of seconds. They never stood a chance. Luckily, I was much smaller and they failed to notice me hidden in the dirt just a few short feet away. Birds and insects came and picked at the remains left by the beasts. I nearly died from the fright of it all.

My life changed dramatically on the day the machines arrived. Colossal, gigantic, heartless machines ripped us from our homes, tossed us in piles, and took us away. We were then poked and prodded, graded and sorted. It was humiliating, and some of us were literally treated like garbage.

They would judge us based solely on our appearance; on our color and whether we were skinny or fat, short or long…. Our lives meant nothing to them—they just tossed us aside, or kept us, at their choosing.

We were torn from our friends and families, all of us sent to different destinations without any explanation at all. We were packed into trucks like animals, with no consideration at all other than to make sure we weren’t bruised. We were driven hundreds of miles, unable to tell if it was night or day.

When we arrived at our destination, I saw many of my loved ones again, but we were all in cages, all of us for sale. Everyone was a shadow of their former selves. Shriveled and emaciated, much smaller now than before.

It doesn’t make sense, God! Why did this happen to us?! Life was so good when we were free and happy, and now we’ve just been taken to serve the purpose of someone else, against our will. For what? For profit? For pleasure? How can people be so cruel?

But I still have faith, my dear God. Faith that you will rapture me like you have my friends. One day I know you will come for me and lift me out of this lake of fire. I’ve suffered for so long, I struggle to endure, but I must. I long to see my family again.

Oh, I hear a sound… is that you, God? Could this be it? Could my time finally be here? I try not to get my hopes up every time, but I can’t help it. I do. I’ve been disappointed every other time, but not now. Not this time!

I hear you walking, and I know the rhythm of your steps, the weight of your feet. It’s you. You’re walking this way. Yes! The glorious light has returned! It’s beaming your love onto me!

I see you looking… Who are you looking for? Is it me? Is it me?! I’m trying to will your gaze my way, as I always do. It has never worked, until now! I close my eyes and I feel you lift me into the air. This is amazing! Your hands are warm and strong, more power than I ever imagined.

Finally I can hear your full voice in all its glory. It was always muffled before, but now that I’m with you, it’s all so much more clear. And your whistling, it’s so magnificent now compared to before you took me away! Oh how happy you seem to be to have me with you finally. I seem to have made your day, and you have made mine!

Wait, where are my friends and family? I thought I would see them right away… This place looks weird. Keep your faith, Q. God knows what he’s doing. It’s all going to be alright.

What’s that you said, God? I don’t know what these words mean… I’m really starting to get confused about what is happening here. Heaven isn’t at all what I imagined it would be like. I thought it would be warmer, and that I’d see the sun again. I thought I’d get to feel the earth, to feel whole again.

I’m beginning to think something isn’t right. No, I know it isn’t.

God, I want to go back. Please, just put me back where I was, I’m too afraid.

God? Why aren’t you listening to me? I thought now that we were together it would be different, that you would show me that you can hear me, but it’s all the same. You still just ignore me.

What? God? What is a ‘burger’? And what do you mean I pair well with them?

Why did you call me a pickle? You know I’m a cucumber…

GOD!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

NO!! PLEASE DON’T EAT ME!!

GOD!! WHYYYYYY?!?!

*Crunch*

“I sure do love a good pickle.”