Who's Awake?

All the world was struggling to stay awake
couldn't stay awake, swiftly drifting
into sleep
and we were there with them, sleeping too
or rather, trying to stay awake,
listening for the presence of your coming,
waiting... just a little more... waiting...
after years of struggle, we slept
in our early days, we were sleeping
when you came, our father was awake,
why was he awake?
Why was he awake?
Why under God's heaven and in God's name was Abram awake?
Awake beneath the stars to listen to your voice,
to capture in his imagination, the promise of your presence
a presence to lead to nationhood and land in a history to be filled
guaranteed by who?
Your voice without description and your person without history?
Why was Abram there to trust you?
You who gave so little credentials concerning yourself?
Why did he speak and who was he serving?
Did he know what you would demand, what friendship demanded?
Would he have assented so willingly knowing his generations cost?
Why did you yoke yourself so unevenly with us?
You had no illusions about who we were,
but now I overstep, I lack your imagination for who we could become.
Forgive me, I see only the immediate
while you have had time beyond memory to perceive
and work the end for which this is all made.