The sign cries out
Salvation
come inside for salvation...
so, I went inside
the work of the Lord
to perform...
full of enthusiasm
all the good I can do
for God
EVERYDAY!!!
How exciting!
The job of a lifetime!
Surely my search
was over.
I went inside
there were faceless
robots
people with no names
only numbers
their smiles drained
into a bucket
in the corner...
people never allowed
to get tired
or sick...
No! No! don't stop for a minute
come...let me take your
life
...for a nickel
and a dime....
ALL for the NAME of GOD!
I looked for God
EVERYWHERE
No mention of His name
No music of praise
on the airways.
People would ask...
where am I?
-Goodwill?
-???
when they wrote their checks.
They didn't know...
They couldn't tell.
They couldn't feel His Presence.
Wasn't it supposed to be
ALL ABOUT HIM?
The captains would walk through
never making eye contact
with anyone
tripping over the bodies
crying
I want more! I want more!
As fast as employees came
in the front door
workers were fleeing out the back
while they still had some life in them
they could escape...
I used to hold them
in my arms
I used to cry with them
pray with them
encourage them
it was my great joy to share their successes
my hand was stretched out if they fell
no one was a mistake in Jesus' eyes
And I tried to remember that
and let my patience grow
like God's patience
for me...
and I saw Jesus
come in the front door of that store
He was carrying the Salvation sign
and I saw Him
walking the aisles
tears streaming down His face
looking for a place
for the weary
to sit down.
And all He saw
were the cash registers
and the cold-eyed captains
whipping and barking
GIVE US MORE!  GIVE US MORE!
and the workers
gasping and groaning
and the life draining...
And precious Jesus...
He touched us
one by one
and said, "Follow Me"
out of the dungeon of filth
and despair.
He said...they used My Name
but I was never allowed
in there.
He brought us out
...one by one...
into brightness of life
again...
O Breathe.