Welcome To The Masquerade

A poem about how broken people are at church and yet don't show it.

Hurry up kids and go grab your best masks.
It's Sunday after all so we have to wear our best.
Put on the one with the biggest smile so that everyone will see how happy you are.
Maybe even throw on a little make up to cover up your scars.
Go to the place to worship the God you have lost faith in.
Then go home and continue to fight battles that alone you can not win.
It seems that everyone at church is just playing charades.
Their true identities are never displayed.
Welcome to the masquerade.

Look at the man sitting in the back.
He is wearing a blue suit, but if it were reflecting how he feels inside then maybe it should be black.
For years now he has been on the corporate climb.
And somewhere along the line he left his warrior behind.
He's at work all day and then he stays up all night staying at a screen that tells him lies.
Each night before he goes to sleep he sits on the bed and as he looks at his wife he cries.
Because each time he gives himself away a little part of him dies.

At the man's side stands his wife.
She is always wearing a smile, but if you looked inside her you would see that she is full of strife.
She feels disgusted every time she looks in the mirror.
So she goes to the gym to fight off the years.
She would give anything to feel loved again.
Loneliness drives her to look for love from other men.
Each night as she goes to sleep she wonders if she will ever feel whole again.

Beside the parents stands a young man.
He's getting ready to graduate but he doesn't have a plan.
He's fallen in love with a beautiful young girl.
He loves her so much that, if he could, he would give her the world.
He wants to settle down with her, but he is scared to become a dad.
He isn't the best at showing love because his father never had.
The thoughts and fears of growing up are taking over his mind.
And he becomes more depressed with time.

Beside the young man stands a girl.
She is more beautiful than a pearl.
Because she doesn't receive love at home she searches for it in all of the wrong places.
She wears make up to try and stand out from the rest of the faces.
She fixes up her appearance.
And advertises her body like it were on clearance.
Maybe if her dad would have been a better example of man she wouldn't have ran off with the first guy that asked for her hand.

Welcome to the masquerade.
Where the people are all broken and afraid.
Being a Christian doesn't mean you have it all together.
It means that you know you can't fight alone and you hold on to Christ in the stormy weather of life.
Being a Christian doesn't mean you are perfect.
Everyone has their defects.
Take off your masks and show your scars.
Show people who you really are.
You are a child of Christ.
When you are in him you no longer have to hide because he gives you a new life.

Reviews

[paul sal.....]

I dont go to church, the hipocrisy turns me off, god is in everything , like turning a stone , etc, I am waiting for him to show himself, the world is a mess, he doesnt need to rapture us, just teach us in the 21 st century, to live in peace

[Sarabelle]

Amazing, amazing amazing! I really loved the way you made everything rhyme and you put the perfect imagery into my head!! Loved it. Great job, Erik.
♥Sarabelle♥

[Erik Daniel]

Thank you so much!

[sonnie ibadah]

profoundly enthralling....i believe we can all relate to that.

[Erik Daniel]

Wow. Thank you so much for this great review! I believe we all can. :)

[Madison O'Dwyer]

This almost made me cry. Beautiful, intriguing, perfection!
It really spoke to my heart, thank you for sharing :)

[Erik Daniel]

Thank you so much for the great review Madison!

[wordman]

you are right on target here it`s going to be sad when the rapture comes most of the church will still be looking around waiting and wondering and a lot of preachers will be with them and 90% of the evangelists

[Erik Daniel]

Exactly! Thanks Ron!

[Shaquana Adams]

I think many people could relate to this poem. The problem stops quite a few from going to church. Nicely penned Erik :)
-QuanaWana

[Erik Daniel]

Thank you! I hated our old church for this reason. If people would just show how broken they are and how in love with Christ they are now, he would reflect off of them.

[A. Amos]

Bro this was brilliant and may God bless you for spreading good news

[Erik Daniel]

Thanks man!

[charlie]

A few things I would say to the content of your writing: first is; perhaps you've been frequenting the wrong church. Next is to think out loud (with you in ear shot, Erik) that the fruitage of the spirit includes joy (and not broken defeat). Third thing I am reminded of whilst reading this page is Matthew 7:1 (... and something else about not being haughty, somewhere in the labyrinth of scriptures ...)

It's interesting, some of the things that can come to mind when reading others words. Thanks for yours.

[Erik Daniel]

Thanks for the review! This doesn't really describe my church. I was going by a lot of churches in general. There are so many people who go to church that don't know what it means to be a Christian. You don't have to act like you have it all together. Being a christian means that you don't have it all together, but that you know who does.

[Mercy Fae]

I can say in all honesty that very few people have seen through my mask. But my parents don't believe the reality of what's behind it

[Erik Daniel]

There's a lot of people whose parents don't know what they went through or are going through. I know I am more apt to talk to friends before parents.

[Mercy Fae]

As am I...