The church versus The Church

 At first

I was sad

Which turned to

Furious

Which turned to

Disappointment.

Now

I'm just disappointed.

I called you

My home

For 19 years.

"Love everyone always."

"Welcome everyone always."

"Respect everyone always."

You preached it

From the rooftops

So I believed

You knew

It was true.

You included

The incarcerated,

You included

The homeless,

You included

The hurt,

No exceptions.

If that

Is true,

Why do I feel

None of that

Coming

From you?

It's not coming

From you few

Who represent

The church

And what's true.

I agreed

To what you

Believe.

I guess I didn't

Analyze

The fine print.

But I did this time.

You said

If I don't transition

I can stay.

"It says that

In the statements,"

You say.

No.

Little did I know

Being a bit more

Vulnerable

Would get me

Fired.

At least I know

There's another

In the fire

Standing next to me.

At least

You taught me

The Church

Isn't a building.

The Church

Is the people.

I may attend

The building,

But I do not stand

For what you stand for.

The building

Is not my home.

I declare His arms

As my home

And embrace

Those who

Bring me closer

To Him

Because I see Him

In them.

I may not

Work there

Anymore,

But I attend

Because I know others

In the building

Who see me

And accept me

For who I am

Because they see

In me

What He sees.

I don't

Represent the church

Anymore.

But I will

Represent The Church.

(September 17, 2021)