Caution!

A poem by parishioner Nancy Neighbors. Thanks, Nancy.



Beware, my child, of attending church.
The danger there is real.
Too noisy, is it, to find God there?
A place for phonies, you say?
Dear one, it's even worse than you think:
Deep within our liturgical clamor,
the stressed, over-dressed, distracted people,
the silent ballet around the Table,
there lurks a word or a phrase for you,
to lift you, defenseless and unexpecting,
straight to God's loving, beating heart,
to heal your wounds and change you forever!

Beware, my child, of attending church.
Beware of the hymns you sing.
The words and music can leap right up,
disturb, surprise, unbalance your mind --
stagger your innocent soul with new truth.
Use caution, my child, when singing hymns!

Beware, my child, of attending church.
Don't listen when Scripture is read.
The most dangerous part of your life begins
when the double-edged holy Word of God
breaches the wall of your distractions,
tiptoes into your awareness,
and begins molding you
according to God's will
for your perfect wholeness.
Beware, O beware, my child,
of ever attending church!