You know how it goes, don’t you. You meet someone, and you chat,
And then, up comes that question, whereby everything goes flat.
“So, what church do you go to?” Oh dear, you inwardly sigh,
For when you give your answer, they’ve suddenly cause to fly.

Exaggerating? Well, maybe, but you know how it goes,
The body language, the eyes; some how or other it shows.
Instead of seeing you now, they’re seeing a little box,
One that has you labeled, and which sports a dozen locks.

Instead of seeing you now, they’re seeing what’s in that box,
One that’s hard to empty, because of those little locks.
You’re no longer who you are, just the contents of their box,
That sadly, all too often, a relationship just blocks.

Though an individual, you’re no longer seen that way,
You’re a certain religion, their reaction seems to say.
These biased little boxes, that have folk pigeon-holed,
Very often just prevent, any good that could unfold.

We’re all individuals, and shouldn’t be pigeon-holed,
Due to the religion, or faith, we practice and uphold.
Whatever one’s religion, or one’s denomination,
There is simply no excuse, for such discrimination.

Yes, I’m simply who I am, which also holds true for you,
I’m ME, an individual, who differently may do.
The path that I have chosen, may be different to yours,
But when it comes to friendship, no barriers should it cause.

Do we really need to ask, “So, what church do you go to?”
Isn’t it irrelevant, from a friendship point of view?
A time and place there may be, where asking has some merit,
But where it’s not warranted, for friendship’s sake, let’s not hear it.

We welcome your comments:

Painting by Mary T. Hoffman - God's Creation in Art

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