I Will Live

I will live
When my heart is heavy
And when it's full of light

I will own
The fullness
Of this life

I will own sunrises
And fatal diagnosis

Grace overflowing
And unspeakable cruelty

Loyal friends
And those who leave

Uncontainable joy
And shame that runs deep

I will take it all in
The whole of it

All the good
All the bad

I will breathe it in deep
And I will live

Respectful

I want to be respectful
Of the beliefs
Of my youth
And of those
Who still
Have them

I want to be respectful

Though my beliefs
Have changed
Expanded
To hold my life

I want to be respectful

Of all those
Around me

And at the same time

This is

Important

I want to

Be respectful
Of me

Off We'd Go

I wish
Those who
Believed differently
Than me

Would see fit

To tell me that
Just once

Instead of

At every turn

With words

Or with
Their eyes

Every

Time
We meet

I wish

It was more
Like this

They would say

I believe this
And I would say
I believe a little differently
 
And then
Off we’d go
To dinner

Off we’d go

For a walk

Off we’d go

Together
With beliefs
That differ

To simply

Live
Our lives

I Need More

I know
The feeling

That comes

When someone says

I don’t

Go to church
Right now

Or

I am
Finding God
My own way

I know

The feeling
Well

I used

To be
That scared

When anyone

Believed differently
Than me

When anyone

Lived out
Their beliefs
In ways
That didn’t fit
My mold

I used to

Look at people
With that same
Sad
Look
That people
Now give
To me

And I want to say

There is
No need
To be sad

I

Really am
OK

We have

A shared faith
That I need more from
And you need less from

I need more

And I
Will continue
On this journey
Until I find it

Worthy

I am worthy
Of so very
Many things

Worthy of love

Worthy of joy
Worthy of mercy

Worthy of time

Worthy of true friendships
Worthy of beautiful experiences

Worthy

Of being
Heard

I am worthy

Though the world

Forgot
To tell me so
Today

And what

Are you
Worthy of