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"I WENT TO CHURCH TODAY"

I found myself attending church today
because I felt a strong need to pray

So I quietly entered the sanctuary, awe mixing with fear
Not dressed to impress, just with an ear needing to hear

The choir had already began to sing
Their chorus so beautiful, so melodious, so striking

Their notes were held perfectly in harmony and pitch
No mistakes, no errors, all pulled off without a hitch

Why, without a set of good eyes it would have been difficult to view
the vast array of feathered singers scattered her and there amongst the dew

I watched a spider revealing its inner beauty while spinning its web
making me wonder what I could do to match the brilliance
So I thought long and hard about this unique human dilemma
realizing that this whole production was the answer to my own inner dance

Seated here I received a vivid impression
that riches and power and prestige did not matter
The congregation was involved in creating a setting
that strengthened the mind and the spirit, guarding it against shatter

Every once in a while the leaves would break out in applause
For if the breeze stiffened they had to obey the wind laws

The congregation was without number, immense in its size
Their total participation bringing tears to my eyes

The service continued all the day long for whoever wanted to stay and listen
Never once a preacher asked for a pledge that was to be thumb-marked for their quaint
little mission
(Thank God that it didn't happen or I would have probably left and went fishing!)

No ushers passed by passing their smiles with a plate
while church leaders reminded you that without giving you will seal your eternal fate

Condemning you to spend an eternity for not helping the poor
Relishing in their opportunity to think that their threat would somehow even the score

In this temple words have very little place
for they are pointless to utter, so remain quiet unless you wish to lose face

There is more honor bound in the workday of the common black ant
than in the lifetime of a statesman whose polished lies have become his chant

I remained in this temple until the light began to fade
enjoying the calm serenity of a place where a spade really is a spade

Here there is no need to pretend that you have bountiful possessions
The inhabitants are not impressed with what amounts to our vain obsessions

Somehow our focus has become an error in which we continuously search and search
In wanting to meet and know our Creator, we have found that we have settled for nothing more than a church

2007

Learn more about this author, Keith Simerson.
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