My heart is breaking for those who don’t know you
who feel nothing of your friendship
have no access to your power
no knowledge of your love
your everlasting love
your gentle, powerful care
your concern for the smallest details
your rescue from the deepest evils.
My heart is raging against those who mislead them
those who reduce you to a set of requirements
with no help to be had
who hold up expectations of perfection
to humans made of dust
who build rules around rules around rules
crushing with spirit with an image
of a vindictive, demanding Father
waiting, watching for a slip-up.
My heart is quaking for the calling
to set the record straight
to bare witness to your goodness
to rebuke the storm of condemnation
to reveal your glorious riches to the poor
to strike a fatal blow to the cult of human will power
to speak boldly against men and women
with more power, wealth, and influence
than I can ever hope to achieve
because they have slandered your magnificent, merciful name
and led your precious lambs astray.