I don't think the church wants you to know this

A poem on the church getting out of its own way

My relationship with church is complicated. It’s been my home since I was a child. It’s given me a social space, meaningful life experiences, opportunities to lead and serve, and an invitation to an expansive and inclusive grace that routinely shocks me with its’ boldness, courage, and compassion. And yet, even inside that beautiful story, the church is full of humans who hurt and harm each other. Some have taken the story in a direction that’s downright ridiculous. There are many days I do not want to be associated with church.

And yet.

I show up because this love keeps whispering me home to myself. This love keeps pointing to a way of being in this world that honors the dignity and sacred worth of every single human being. This love dismantles injustice and co-creates Beloved Community.

Here’s a poem I wrote in June of 2022 about the church getting out of its own way.

i used to think 
people only found 
true freedom
in the church

now i know 
freedom is 
everywhere

i don’t think
the church 
wants you to
know this

they’re 
scared
desperate
sad 
their
institution is 
dying

if only the church 
allowed the good news
to be true for them too 

love doesn’t 
need an institution’s
structure
approval
blessing
permission
organization
to 
set
it
free

if the church
is the people
then 
all love needs
are people willing
to set the story

free

Photo by John Cafazza on Unsplash