We Were in Church

We sat among them,
Side by side with our fellow believers,
Doing all they did, as we were taught.

We sang their songs,
We offered prayers,
We absorbed the Word,
We tithed our earnings,
We clapped our hands in rhythm,
We called our pastors "Dad" and "Mom,"
We visited their homes,
Bought them cars,
And labored in their fields.

Yet, we were like blind men,
Seated on Jericho’s dusty road,
While the congregation moved,
Like a crowd trailing behind Jesus.

We saw Him,
And with all our hearts, we called out:
“Have mercy on us!
Mercy, Son of David.”

But the voices around us said,
“Silence yourselves!
Do not question our leaders!
Have you not heard?
Touch not the anointed ones!”

Still, He heard us.
“What do you seek?” He asked.
"Open our eyes," we replied,
"That we may see."

And with His touch,
The blindness fell away.
We began to truly see.

And so, we left the church—
But we did not leave God.