An Open Letter to God

by Pete Seymour, an 8 year NSW Operator/SOCM/First Responder

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God- Did you know that stars shine more brightly while you gaze upon them a final time? Screaming their fruitless plea for you to stay. For them to protect you. 

God- Did you know the way that the mountains can cry out longingly as they see your breath grow short in defeat. Calling you back to their embrace. Back home. The mountains call to fix you. To remind you that you are one of their own. That you belong to them. They can help you heal. 

God- Did you know that my wife is out there? A smile waiting to never be forgotten, a first kiss never to be stolen, a bed never filled, a knee never knelt, a ring never placed, a surprise never suspected, a song never danced to together as if no one was looking, tears of joy never intertwined as they run down cheeks held together, tiny footsteps never heard, a hand never held until strength failed, promises never made about waiting on the other side, an arm not waiting to escort her from one side to the other. A gentleman. Just like my mama taught us. 

God- Did you know that snowflakes dance? A display of innocence to us who can not comprehend your plans as we fall the same way that they do. Showing the angels among us the beauty that we can create without the confines of the blood-soaked earth beneath us. 

God- Do you know that we were lied to? We children with strife in our blood? Born into this world to defy the easy path put before us and instead chose the wild. The villains are gone, the damsels in distress have promised us their love while riding away with cowboys who do not seek the horizon and the tunes of our faithful sidekicks will arise with the smoke of different campfires. 

God- Do you know the way that your last breath looks through frozen eyes with a gaze cast heavenward? Each individual particle shows how special they are as they dance in an inimitable pattern to the sky for which potential may never be found in a manner that strikes jealousy in the angels you sent to walk among us. 

God- Do you know how much I will miss this when I am gone? How much I will cling to the feet of those who choose to cheat the snowflakes? To hold them here, close to me? To show them the way that the mountains love us?            

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