It should be obvious to anyone who reads my blog that I tend to express myself in prose, not poetry. But there have been occasions when poetry comes to me unexpectedly. I have no idea if it would stand scrutiny by anyone who actually knows how to write or critique or even how to read poetry, but when words come to me in this fashion, it feels important to write them down. Sometimes art is the attempt to communicate something that cannot be easily expressed in other ways.

I attended a conference entitled “Evolving Faith” a couple weeks ago. It was a very full two days of listening to intense speakers presenting how an evolving faith intersects with relationships, parenting, social justice, politics, art, theology, church and everything in between. I soaked in the words, trying to internalize, to critique, to listen, to learn. All the things. And afterwards I was so exhausted all I could do was bundle up all the swirling words I had heard and carry them deep into my soul where they pulsed with color and light as I tried to tuck them away safely into the fabric of my being. Little bits and pieces of it have emerged when things come up in conversations with others, but for the most part, I haven’t really touched these things intentionally yet.

But, twice in the last two weeks, words have bubbled up unexpectedly in poetic form. Words that express the feelings and emotions that this conference stirred in me better than I can right now in prose. And so, here are two poems. One more personally expresses the painful intersection of internal faith shift and external action; the other is an encouragement to those who I’ve intentionally left behind, a call for them to join me.

Where to stand

I don’t know where to stand,
On the rock or in the sand.

I don’t know where to wait,
In the crooked or the straight.

I don’t know where to fight,
In the dark or in the light.

I don’t know what to do,
Turn away or follow you.

I don’t know the shape my voice takes.
Is it the breath of angels
or the roar of lions that I make?

I don’t know the power that I hold.
Is it the force that builds the new
or the fire that burns the old?

If I were hurt and if I bled,
Would my blood be white or is it red?

If I were asked to be bold,
Could I find a hand to hold?

And when we go out into the night,
Will we make peace or will we fight?

 

A Call to the Evangelical Church

Step out.
Step out from the faith you have known.
Go forth into the great unknown.
Move forward with your head held high.
But hurry, for there isn’t much time.

There are people here who are crying.
There are people here who are dying.
There are people here.
There are people.

Step out.
Step out from the faith you have known.
Go forth into the great unknown.
Find beauty in the ashes.
Stand shoulder to shoulder with the masses.

There is truth here to build hope with.
There is hope here to build a home with.
There is love here.
There is peace.

Step out.
Step out from the faith you have known.
Go forth into the great unknown.
Let go of your assumptions.
The idea that all that isn’t you is nothing.

There are people here who are striving.
There are people here who are thriving.
There are people here.
There are people.

Step out.
Step out from the faith you have known.
Go forth into the great unknown.
The kingdom of God is near.
The kingdom of God is here.

There is freedom here for those who doubt.
There is freedom here for those who shout.
There is freedom here.
There is freedom.