the sermon today was
                                                  a story.
you've probably heard it.
a preacher and a butcher.
the preacher mistook the
                                                  butcher
for a poor excuse for a
                                                  shepard.
but the story's
                                                  irrelevant.
what's relevant is what
a woman told me
after --
that it is so easy for
christians to be led
                                                  astray.
from shepard to
butcher
and not even know the
                                                  difference.

and
i thought
this happens to everyday people
too.
how long until your
                                                  loving guidance,
                                                  gentle prodding
                    turns into
                                                  angry demanding,
                                                  violent shoving?

how long until your
                                                  love
                              becomes
                                                  forced?

how long until you
                              become
                                             a
                                                  butcher?