a letter

Dear Sirs and Madam,

As your stand there on the podium, beckoning us to believe, we lift our voices and shout our praise. We wave our “hail hosanna” cardboard signs crying victory in your name. We bow and uphold you for the promised change you jingle in your pocket. Change that will feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, provide for the needy, and lower taxes.
Your face glows as you draw us near to you and summon us to hope.
Your messianic voice cries salvation from the sin in which we’ve been forced to wallow. Your face shimmers in divine light with reflections of halos round your head.
You are the answer. You bring redemption.
We dance in the aisles, while tongues of praise pour on you as rain.
Delegates sing hymns of your glory and chant triumphant battle cries.
Your promises ring prophecies in our ears. In you we place our trust. Our hope is in you. Show us your way. Guide us in what you know of truth.
For we know that in you, all will be made right.

We will be restored.

In your name we’ll become The United States of a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come. Save us, O redeemer.
Our children nestle against your neck, raised up rightly in adoration of you. Your redemption will spread through the ages.
Tears of hope for tomorrow fall down our cheeks as you kiss our babies, grasp our hand, and lead us to the Promised Land full of milk and honey and all that we believe us to deserve.
In you, we can. With our hope in you, country first shall be last.
Those who choose you are free indeed. Let freedom ring.
Save us from our enemies. Deliver us from evil.
For yours is our kingdom, our power and glory for years,

Amen.

This Literal Chasm

This Literal Chasm

Black and white

Things are not

Messy

Things are

What is grace?

What if I don’t repent of a single sin?

Or does your grace cover all?

How do I follow the one I call Savior?

How does one worship in spirit and in truth?

Where are you?

Who are you?

Where are you not?

Even in the depths of Sheol, you are there.

As I wail in my pit

You are there

If I climb out

You are there

If I remain?

If I see your light beckoing

To climb out of my abyss

But instead, cling clumsily to the side

Because it hurts to much to climb out

Will you pull me out?

You will.

But on which side of the Jordan?

Yes, it is written.

Yes the Lord of hosts demands justice

Yes he loves us too much

To let us wallow in our pit

But it’s a long, slow rope that pulls us out

We get banged up and bloodied against the wall as we rise

And our breath may escape us before we reach the top

But we follow as he beckons

Until we breathe our last

Banish my pride, Lord

Mend this broken heart

Broken mind

Broken spirit

Broken home

Broken society

Broken church, oh Lord, we’ve broken your body

Cast us not away for our ignorance, Lord

We try to earnestly seek you

But we’re so easily distracted

So easily distracted

So easily distra

Don’t study theology, kids

But, oh how I love it

How big is your box Lord?

That too is cliché

Are we damned?

I don’t even try not to badmouth coworkers

Though you say it is murder

How many have I killed?

Hundreds

Whose faces stare gauntly at me

From the other side of the chasm?

In my mind?

Lord, save us all.

I beg you.

In your mercy, Lord, save us all.

There is too much here.

The enemy, too powerful.

Bind him.

Save us.

As we remain in our pits

Clinging clumsily to the sides

Because it hurts too fucking much to climb out

Rescue us, before breath escapes

Or Lord,

Revive us after

In your arms of mercy.

On the banks of the Jordan

When all shall have their fill

And you will be our light.

Some may be damned in the kingdom come

Lord save us all in the kingdom not yet.

This I beg.

Jesus, only you are truth.

You are the culmination

Lord your spirit is upon me

In my shortcomings and wrong beliefs

I feel you in the breeze on my face

You love me