How did we manage to get it so wrong?

Oh Sacred One

the one I know

the one revealed in Jesus

who showed what it can look like

when we let the Sacred

which is love

flows through us into the world

how did we get it so wrong?

our concept of how you work,

your essential nature

how did we manage to take a God of love

and create a God of anger

who is ultimately downright mean?

how did we make you one to fear

one who must be appeased

in order to avert

disaster

death

worse!

eternal torment

how did we make you so ready

to punish

to curse?

even our concept of grace

can only be reached

through pain and death

this all affects us Lord

it causes us to fear

to judge

to reject

to exclude

to barricade our country

and even our hearts

as we cling to this version of

You that has little room

for inclusion

we become the opposite

of what you desire for us

we struggle to love, to find generosity

even at our best we tolerate

rather than accept

we see your love as conditional

(if we are honest)

and our love becomes conditional too

I don’t know what to do with this God

I see pious mems

I see hateful comments

I cringe at the behaviors of those who would be your people

I love you

I love you in Jesus

I love you in those I see around me in my church

I love you in those people who litter the world

the failures

the haters

the fearful

the strugglers

but right now

it simply feels like we have gotten it very wrong

and instead of being conduits

for the healing of the world

we have become

part of the problem with the world

(we who would “follow” You)

and I am sad

O Lord forgive us

Remind us You are Love

Teach us

to

love