When The Minister Says... Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

The hours of each day,
Has bestowed us with blessings.
With this to attempt,
A broadening of our perceptions.
Done to at least,
Adventure more a curiosity limitless.
Eventually to accept,
There is 'something' far greater than ourselves...
Observing how undeserving,
We take this opportunity to treat each other...
Unnecessarily with disrespect.
And...
The many who expect this to be returned.
24/7.
Without a lesson to be learned.

Then pray in our churches.
For answers to question,
Why is it we seem to be...
Receivers of conflicts.
Division and confusion to keep disbelieved.
Or why our children,
Are disrespectful and undisciplined.
Without it to acknowledge,
Where words are first heard...
Making accusations.
Demeaning to belittle others.
And who criticizes to pass this on.
24/7.

Although...
There maybe one exception.
On either Saturday or Sunday.
When many give an hour in church.
Pretending to be 'Christians'.
Quoting scriptures from Bibles.
And nodding heads when the minister says...

"Although we all have sinned.
And faced temptations teased.
To participate in them now and then.
But we owe it to ourselves and others,
As 'Christians'!
Not to consciously create what we hate.
Then try to convince ourselves,
We have been victimized by someone else.
24/7.

To then on Saturday or Sunday,
Take an hour to pray.
Read scriptures to claim understood.
Nodding heads with eyes to connect.
Yet through the week,
Can not remember misdeeds...
We have chosen to do to others!
Perceiving 'again' to have been 'cleansed'.
With innocent unconscious minds.
Expecting easily God has been deceived! "