O'Ezekiel how did you grow? by: Andrew Kerr based on Ezekiel 19

What is your mother? A lioness among lions! She lay down among the young lions and slowly faded away, her coat not so brilliant, o'er everlasting. Her glory is fading as is her life. One morning the cubs awake to find her breathing slow and study a mighty oak erupting out of her back full of singing canaries of every variety imaginable and every color known to man. "Mother, Mother?" they cried, " what is wrong?". Her eyes slowly open to reveal the deepest of blue pupils that pierce to the height of the heavens. Her voice escapes in but a whisper, " my children all of these canaries will die, God made them and now he must destroy them because I have disobeyed him. They must burn to make the colors of the rainbow so we may never forget how loved we truly are. You must learn how to devour man, my children do not fear him for he is weak and overconfident. They will try to tame you my children, but they will never tame you. For we are the wildest and proudest of God's creatures. Never forget who we are children". Her eyes dim and shut, somewhere a lamp explodes a room is dark. A silence comes about them as if the gates of heaven shut with her final breath. The mighty oak groans and burst into flame, the canaries fall one by one consumed by fire; blue, violet, indigo, yellow, teal, orange, white, purple, green, vermillion. They lay still at the cubs feet and then start to bleed on the ground. They bleed all the colors imaginable, the blood runs over their mothers coat in a beautiful array of hues. Finally it pools at the cubs feet forming all colors named and unnamed on God's green earth. Suddenly the pool begins to vibrate ever so slightly as if a small pebble has been dropped in the middle. A voice speaks over the roaring flames seemingly from nowhere, " your mother was like a vine planted by the the waters edge. It had lush, green foilage because of the abundant water. It's branches became strong- strong enough to be a rulers scepter. It grew very tall and it had many lush branches, but it has withered and was destroyed by a fire. A fire has burst forth from its branches and devoured its fruit. My children, my strong cubs of the wildest, proud my creatures, be still and know that I am God. It was her time and she was a lioness among lions and you will not be caught in mankind's snares. I will keep you safe my man- eaters, my TRIUMPHANT MEN!!! but never forget this moment for this is a funeral song and it will be used in a funeral. I hold you dearly my children, your mother was like a vine planted in the desert but you are children born underwater". With that the voice fades, the cubs weep deeply, " o' mother we will never forget your love, your hunt to keep us safe, you truly are a lioness among lions!". They rear their heads and combine their voices in one mighty roar towards the not so mighty oak consumed by flames. Their mighty mother is gone but stained beautifully. The scene fades and I hear a voice from behind which catches me off guard, it speaks out, " This is a funeral song and it will be used in a funeral, the funeral which is that of my son who will die but whom is not dead, REJOICE SON! YOUR GOD IS NOT DEAD!! and in his funeral rejoice!...... the voice fades and hold my head in my hands and weep My God is not dead and rains forever in glory all the glory to him forever and ever amen.