"The Problem Of Evil"
"Pancakes, Pancakes,
Come and get your Pancakes,"
You are selling pancakes in the yard
You're full of hope and smiling as you call
Everyone to come and enjoy your homemade pancakes
For a moment everything is okay and bright
The sun is shining, the birds are singing
And everything seems to be okay
You turn around and smile at me widely
And I start giving thanks to God who gives so much
But then some mean kids come up to your stand
And they take your pancakes and throw them in the dirt
They kick over your stand and punch you
And they walk sullenly away
They have gotten their reward
You look wide open with the wind knocked out of you
And you stare at them as they leave
Then just as fast you run to my arms crying
With wide vacant tears and open arms
"My Pancakes! My Little pancakes!"
Your tears are confused and without understanding at all
How could they do this terrible thing to you
As you are crying without answer and without hope
I throw my arms around you and I pray
That you never have it happen again
But it probably will happen every time after this
And there is really nothing we can do
For every child who makes pancakes with joy
There are always those who only want to tear it down
I'm holding you in my arms and praying to God
How can you ever survive on your own
They will always throw pancakes in the dirt
That's the way humans are
Today, tomorrow, until the end of time
You just need to be callused enough to take it
You have to begin all over again
And maybe not open the pancake stand anymore
Because It's the nature of evil
It just is, like the moon in the window
The weak get knocked down and knocked out
The strong get stronger and meaner
And you have to be cruel to get ahead
And the good guys always finish last
But still, in your tears I find meaning
Because you are so very beautiful
Maybe your beauty is the meaning of life
In Jesus' Name
Amen