God's Shadow

I thought I saw God's shadow looking over Mississippi,
reflected in the waters of New Orleans, cast over Alabama and Biloxi;
Upon closer observation
'twas only a mirage created by my own imagination.

I thought I saw God's teardrops fall upon the sands of Iraq;
teardrops filled with sorrow leaving puddles in their wake:
Upon looking with more care,
'twas only the blood of soldiers and the innocent lying there.

I thought I heard God's voice booming before the coming storms,
warning those who would heed to seek shelter that was warm.
When I listened more closely
'twas only the wind of the pre-storm calm.

I thought I felt God's caress brush gently against my cheek,
on its way to give aid and comfort to those in need and the meek;
'twas only the petals of a rose
flowing softly upon the breeze.

I thought I saw God's shadow following me one day,
and I turned to face that shadow though I knew not what to say:
so many questions I longed to ask, so many answers I yearned to know:
Yet the only question I could utter was, "God, were all those really You?"

I realized that those eyes of God had seen more devastation
than my feeble mind could ever grasp;
those eyes had witnessed more pain and suffering spanning centuries
than my eyes would ever see.

Once again, I saw the teardrops, felt the caress and heard the voice;
and as the shadow began to fade, the voice was lifted on the wind:

"Yes, my child. I was just checking in."