Sermon after sermon, familiar hymns by rote
Going through the motions adrift in a leaky boat
Dusty, lifeless duty, ticking someone's box
Doing what's expected, trying to dodge hell's rocks.
Teaching that reopens wounds, empty words and phrases
Banging on about the rules passed down throughout the ages -
But Wait
Is that true? Do I inherit
opinions that have no merit?
What happened to abundant life, instead of rules which seem so rife?
Restrictions, expectations and
control by someone else's hand.
What of Grace?
I've spent so long believing I
am lost to God and wondering why
I ever bothered, ever tried,
many hopeless tears I've cried
UNTIL - there were no churches open,
all the doors were firmly closed
Nobody could point the finger,
different rules were now imposed.
The pressure lifted, some wailed and mourned
but in my soul a new light dawned
and now I'm starting to explore
if God is found through other doors
Or rather - if God has been waiting, listening to my pontificating
and smiling, as they draw me back to real connection which I lacked
For God won't be confined, contained,
they laugh at rules the world ordained
and walk upon the beach and draw
designs upon the sandy shores
They splash red paint across the skies
and teach the baby birds to fly
They decorate the flowers by hand
and help the sapling learn to stand
They guard the bulbs through winter's snow
and point the way new shoots should grow
They dance and jive through autumn leaves
and thrill the soul that now believes
in listening for their heartfelt laughter
beyond the walls and lofty rafters
and seeing their smile in sunny skies
and tasting raindrops as they cry
Worshipping by candlelight
and colours bold, vibrantly bright
and squirrels scampering in glee
then leaping fearlessly through trees
Rainbows, clouds and new mown grass
Or tinkling celebratory glass
or dancing frenzied or intense
Discovering God with every sense.
Re-finding Grace, acceptance too
No need to strive, God looks for you
and finds you, pulls your boat to shore
and dances with you evermore.
Karen Holmes
October 19 2021