God Will Meet Us There

Sanctuary.
A place of peace,

A refuge from the storms of life:

Both those that rage within our minds

And those that rage against our bodies. 

Somewhere we find shalom. 

Not just a lack of violence or conflict,

But a world ordered according to 

The will and purposes of God,

Where everything is as it should be. 

But where do we go when the violence 

Is perpetrated by people who claim to know

The God whose shalom should care for all?

Where do we find shelter

When our houses of worship become

Places where we worship ourselves instead,

Where the ones who gather find no kinship

With the breadth and scope of humanity, 

Only fear of the ones who don't fit

Into their narrow and toxic definition of salvation?

We shelter in the places that we find peace. 

In the bars, the libraries, and the hobby shops. 

The bookstores, the gay clubs, and the public parks. 

We seek out places where community flourishes, 

Where no one hates us

Because of who we are or who we love. 

And God, who has never been limited 

By buildings, labels, or self-righteous bigots, 

Meets us there. 

We build our sanctuaries in the open air

And on the sweaty dance floors. 

Surrounded by books and coffee, 

By art and music and dancing. 

God follows, and the sanctuaries left behind

Will eventually crumble without their foundation.