Distant God

God you are omnipotent

omnipresent

ineffable

and lots of other big words

that mean that you have power.

So where was your power

when the fault plates shifted

and the earth moved for hundreds of thousands 

of your people?

Where were you when

the ocean

took up the vibes

and swelled and raged

and attacked the land

with such force,

wiping out cities 

and towns and villages

sweeping the board clean 

like a child

who has fallen out with friends

and refuses to "play nice".

Where were you as folk fled for their lives

with no warning

and so many had nowhere to go?

And where are you now

as folk huddle in makeshift centres

or trawl the streets

looking in vain

for loved ones.

Or jump in alarm 

at the slightest shudder, 

living in fear

of the very real threat

of after shock.

All powerful God 

where are you?

As we look on in horror

safe but impotent

open our eyes O God

to see you

crouched and slouched 

with your suffering people

broken and battered

and washed up in the carnage.

Huddling with the lost

and the grieving

and the confused

and the hurting.

Cowering before the forces of nature

that may strike again

with the same savagery

and the same unpredictability.

Simply because

you are NOT a distant God

but a God who dwells with God's people

 suffering the ravages

that affect humanity.

And, when we despair

that you share our impotence

remind us

that we would have you

no other way

but wholly involved

with your creation.

All powerful God

too close for comfort.