Church & Hate

"Border Fence" via Ellin Jimmerson

Since Constantine wed religion and state,

Love has taken second chair.

Violence is always there,

at the corner of Church and Hate.

Empire's questions will always trump

Grace's gentle call to care;

threats pop up everywhere,

leaving compassion at the dump.

When children hail from different places

we erase their gift of humanity,

and take away their dignity,

while seeing no Christ in their faces.

"Send them back!" we angrily scream.

Protect our sacred real estate

by any means, including hate;

give them a nightmare for their dream.

How dare their parents let them go!

Unable to fathom, we feign confusion

and pogo-stick to our conclusion

as if we somehow really know.

If our world hasn't faced circumstances

of utterly hopeless brutality,

with no real hope or hospitality,

we can't imagine taking those chances.

The shoes that others are wearing

can only help our hearts transform

if we sit with tea from hot to warm

listening to the stories they're sharing.

© 2014 Todd Jenkins