Reason - By Joann Fisher - Atlanta, GA
September 13th, 2006Reason
(when you want to leave the faith)
I understand how much life hurts
When things don’t seem just right
And the world around you
Seems all darkness and no light
I understand when friends feel pain
You want to ease their load
And pick them up, and usher them
Down God’s own peace filled road
I understand when people seem
Too righteous and too saved
and in the name of God
they take away the peace you’ve craved
I understand these feelings
They are hurtful and are real
But rest assured, you’re not alone
I know just how you feel
I know because I’ve felt them too
At odd times in my life
I’ve felt excruciating grief,
Felt burdened down with strife
I’ve felt confused and even mad
At different sermons preached
I’ve wondered where my money’s gone
And who my dollar’s reached
I’ve wanted to just live my life
Without the church in tow
I’ve wanted to just leave it all
When I was feeling low
I’ve had the wrong things said to me
In rude and thoughtless ways
I’ve had my share of “I don’t want
to go to church” filled days
But, for the cross, I have stood firm
I haven’t left, not once
Because I find what matters, friends
Is simply my response
When Jesus died upon the cross
My sins were on his mind
And when I lied and cursed and fought
He never was unkind
And when I had immoral thoughts
Impure and hateful too
Jesus said to God above
Do what you have to do
And so He knelt upon the ground
and let us whip and spit,
and slap and curse and nail him down
Not once did he quit
And not once did God turn around
And say, “look what you’ve done!
You imbeciles, you little fools
You’ve murdered my one Son
No Jesus said I choose you, child
To know my Father’s grace
Jesus said, I choose you child
To see my Father’s face
So I have gone to tutor kids
And it was not for show
I’ve stayed up and I’ve prayed for folks
Whose names I didn’t know
I’ve had a friend to cry with me
When he had no tears left
And the pain moved from my head
And hurt inside my chest
I’ve seen people lose it all
And they had not a dime
Christians gave not only cash
But gave themselves, gave time
My money, it has paid the rent
For asians, whites and blacks
And brothers in the winter time
Gave coats off of their backs
I know I could go on and on
About the church’s deeds
My goal is not to boast you see
But pluck out a few weeds
I know that I could build a home
Keep homeless people fed
But without God, do you think
Food matters when they’re dead
I could tutor project kids
Help keep them on the roll
But spelling matters little
When you do not have a soul
To build a church is more than just
A trivial little game
It’s helping someone understand
God wants to know their name
It’s telling someone of His love
While paying for their clothes
It’s turning them away from sin
While listening to their woes
It’s giving them a family
Of humans who repent
A family that loves
And sometimes hurts without intent
It’s helping them to learn to use
The will God freely gave
And showing them how you escaped
From being Satan’s slave
It’s having fun and laughing hard
Until you burst your gut
It’s helping someone that you love
Get out of satan’s rut
So now I understand these things
I cannot leave His church
When such a treasure has been found
There’s no more need to search
Take a piece of wood
Form a T upon another
And now the baptized faithful
Is my sister and my brother
Give God a chance to take away
The pain you have inside
Let him show once again
The reason that he died
And if you hurt, if you feel pain
Or anger, sadness too
God understands and promises
That He’ll be there for you
2 Comments »
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Great poem can i send the limk to my freinds and family.
ps in the phrase below is the word “now” supposed to be “know”?
Take a piece of wood
Form a T upon another
And now the baptized faithful
Is my sister and my brother
Comment by John — September 24, 2006 @ 3:30 pm
Yes!
Comment by jerry — October 26, 2006 @ 3:09 pm