Epiphany

I had heard there was a phone booth where you could talk to God.  I found it in the dingy glow of a ‘5 Dollar Sex Show’ neon sign. I put my quarter in the worn slot. I held my breath and listened. The voice sounded like a thousand hands running through soft hair, or every leaf in every tree undulating in a gentle breeze. He asked me what I wanted before I die.

I answered:

Before I die

I want to give

Without wanting

I want to know there is a reason

I want to be still

And be ok with that

I want to see the symphony of life

In silence

I want to love someone

In the way that nothing else matters

I want to change a life

I want to quit faking

I want to be happy with myself

Quit expecting to be

Someone else’s expectations

I want my parents to know

How grateful I am

I want to know fear

As nothing

Know happiness

As an old friend

I want to teach someone

That wealth in money

Is meaningless
and that wealth through knowledge

Friendship and experience are the
true bounty

I want to believe what I just said.