Stained Glass

It's only by forgetting yourself that you draw near to God. - Thoreau

with its weathered steeple of wormwood desperately reaching up from a profound abyss

seemingly on target but always a near miss

searching

week after week

i sit in the pew

same trying seat

same adamantine view

waiting for you

the candles long since burned down

nothing but a pile of melted wax

the good book vehemently perched at the altar

burning incense along with its sacred syntax

open in full view

turned to the same yellowed, dusty pages

whilst a battle of faith and will rages

the choir's song just a distant memory in tone deaf ears

the same swollen legs that carry me out carrying me through the years back in

the same light that harkens, revealing my sin

whose cross is it anyway

maybe i'm just an angry, bitter man

trying to look in through an out window

unable to let go of the past

trying to see clearly through

stained glass

Author's Note

"It is not when I am going to meet him, but when I am just turning away and leaving him alone, that I discover what God is. I say, God. I am not sure that that is the name. You will know what I mean." - Thoreau

Reviews

[emmajoygreen]

A church has those walls that hear our thought, just as those beautiful windows shade our thinking. Whatever the believer says aloud, tis the conversation she or he has with the Friend that always is.. just that.

Your words gently but genuinely sink deep into the mind, Pete, how we interpret them is personal and inspiring - each with one's own concept of what and how you voice your emotions and - belief in them.

[Pete]

so true. such matters best left between us and our higher power thus the setting of a church as a neutral place of meeting, stained glass representative of our own shortcomings and desire for answers. your shared summary thoughts much appreciated as always dear friend ... :)

[emmajoygreen]

The cool calm of a place of worship and its hallowed coloured windows surely make the sometimes empty pews full of life rather than vacancy.

[Betty Hermelee]

A very poignant poem, sitting in an old, withered church, not sure why you are there, but perhaps pondering someone you loved in the past; some dark of your perhaps sinful life...but now no one is there to listen.... only remembrances of a life long ago....trying to find where God is? has he disappointed you? or is he still within you? trying to let go of the past is tortuous.... especially when you are bitter...so who can help? only you.....
Nicely written....
Warmly, B

[Pete]

perhaps all of the above. we seek answers but often there are none. we all have regrets that haunt us. thanks for sharing b. ... :)

[Betty Hermelee]

You’re very welcome Pete
Warmly,
B

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

God is in our heart when we accept him
Many times I’ve wondered why God left me
But I was wrong He never really left me I abandoned him ignored him
Loved your write ✍️

[Pete]

indeed. he is faithfully within.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. - Matthew 7:7-8

thanks. good to "see" ypu julie ... :)

[Julie McCarthy (juliespenhere)]

I see you too
Have a great night

[Ken Simm.]

Perfect descriptions but this is not all about sitting in church is it?

[Pete]

well it started out that way and on the surface it is but it went deeper into our need to look within to find answers to our questions regarding life, ourselves and a higher power along with owning up to the part we play in how we respond to adversity and trials of faith... :)

[willweb]

A church, the altar, the book, the windows, they are only things...belief is what matters. If one believes, then there will be no waiting needed. Very cool poem my friend, you have painted a wonderful picture with your words.

[Pete]

true that ww. we need only look within ... :)