Religion Poem by Jim Yerman

There is grandeur and beauty in a church…even a small one is sublime.
That's why we stop to take their pictures…that's why they lend themselves to rhyme.

Churches were built to help us learn to love…to share…to accept…to give
to help us understand who we are…and make this Earth a better place on which to live.

But there are some churches out there…some, I believe, who have lost their sight…
whose religions have one set of rules…their judgements…black and white.

Where their way is the only way and we have no choice but to agree…
And so their religion cedes its love an understanding…to hate and bigotry.

I've seen how religions have divided us…as some of them have forgotten the notion
that we are all part of something wonderful…like one wave upon the ocean.

In their zeal for their rules and canons…they believe come from somewhere up above
they have suppressed how nature should be our church…
and our religion should be love.

For when our heart is filled with love for everyone…yes everyone
when we learn to share…to accept…to give
Then we are that one wave upon the ocean…
and we have made this Earth a better place on which to live.

Perhaps every photo of a church we take should be colorless…
To remind us, when we pray…
this world we think is black and white…
Is often painted gray.