Sarah D. Shearer

This for all of us, the Christians, the religious ones,

Who boldly approach the altar,

To worship our convictions.

This is for all of us who sit at home paralyzed by fear, and call it waiting on the Lord, when the Lord is already here.

This is for all of us with more opinions than faith,

With principle after extra -biblical principle,

Which we use as a method of escape.

This is for all of us who think we know God’s heart, but the moment true compassion sets in,

We don’t know where to start.

This is for the offended, the sure, the proud,

Who love our perch, where we sit so haughty, happy to look down.

Here’s what I’m learning, friends, and it’s hard for me to admit.

I have built an altar, a tower high full of holy limits.

I told God my standards, and hoped he would comply.

I made up rules to follow devoutly, which no one asked me to try.

I called it freedom when it was really pride,

And my tower piled so high I could barely get outside.

But the light broke through and I saw my err.

How is it we settle for stale religion

And fail to marvel at the gift we have been given.

What are all these made up black and whites,

Which only separate and fail to unite.

I’m learning He is bigger than the box I tried to place Him in.

I’m learning He matters more than how I thought I was pleasing man.

How will they accept me?

How can I fit it?

How do I become worthy

To be liked by other Christians?

He’s bigger than our rules

And we’ll never figure him out

And he’s often found outside waiting

Our temple of pride and doubt.

Let’s get outside the box and love with reckless abandon.

Let’s let his spirit guide the way, instead of our pro con list.

He’s always up for more, always pursuing more, always found doing that which we may judge.

His black and white is Christ crucified.

His principle is his death and resurrection.

and the tomb where they laid him is where we should leave our self written bibles.

He’s moving, and I want to go with him.

All the stuff I once found important pales in comparison to his face.

The revelation brings the change, not the other way around.