The Difference Between Us

While they sit in darkness
handing off their sins to an obtuse father,

I sit at His feet and lay myself openly bare before my Father.

 

While they kneel before statues

and mutter words in hopes to penetrate the stone ears before them,

I ask and it is given.

 

While they light incense to bring good favor,

I am already favored.

 

While they cry out to their Shebas, Vishnus, and Ganeshas,

I only need to know One name.

 

While they spend hours wasting their breath

waiting for an answer from deaf gods,

my God speaks as loud as thunder.

 

While they offer up their food, money, possessions,

while they offer up their children to appease their gods,

I give only myself and know that is a pleasing offering.

 

While they chant mantras,

memorize script, and drown themselves in ritual practice,

my hearts cry is worship enough.

 

While they have to face the right direction

five times a day, with their faces to the ground,

I live freely in His presence.

 

While they fumble in the darkness for truth and acceptance,

I walk sure-footedly in the light,

I find fulfillment in unfailing love.

 

While they choose to scoff in the face of religion,

while they would rather live for no name, without a true identity,

I live for The Name, under His identity.

 

While they look to Buddha, Allah, a lady named Mary,

and countless embodiments of ‘god’,

while they hunger and thirst after voices that never fill,

words that never quench,

while they try to fulfil that void with the rites and rituals of spiritual marauders,

I am satisfied, I am satiated,

I am full, I am overflowing.