Christianity of Freedom, You Choose (by Happy Cow)
Below we reproduce a Christian poem that our scintillating friend Mandy Christie was kind enough to give us permission to use. Further below that poem is what we might call a 'counter-poem'. See which one strikes a chord with you. Like in all of life, we wish to make it clear that no thought is ever 'right' or 'true'. Truth cannot be spoken. Our aim at Happy Cow is to broaden the horizon, to provide people with more thought choices.
Enjoy your free choice!
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I Am a Christian!
When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I am saved"
I'm whispering "I get lost!"
"That is why I chose this way."
When I say..."I am a Christian"
...I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need someone to be my guide.
When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
and pray for strength to carry on.
When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
and cannot ever pay the debt.
When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
my flaws are too visible
but God believes I'm worth it.
When I say..."I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain
I have my share of heartaches
which is why I seek His name.
When I say..."I am a Christian"
I do not wish to judge.
I have no authority.
I only know I'm loved.
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I Am Free!
When I say, 'I am free,'
I am not shouting 'I am saved.'
Nobody needs saving. I don't invent problems.
You cannot get lost when your home is inside you.
That is why I don't need to choose a way.
When I say, 'I am free,'
I don't speak of this with pride.
I am free from both pride and humility.
I stumble sometimes. But stumbling is just fine.
I just get myself up again.
I do not need a guide. I have no destination in mind.
When I say, 'I am free,'
There is no need to be strong.
The chains have already been broken.
But it seems that I am not weak either.
I can happily enjoy my unique dance.
When I say, 'I am free,'
I know that success and failure are just made up.
I have neither debtors nor creditors.
I am a lover, not a business.
When I say, 'I am free,'
I have no need of the concept 'perfection'.
I unconditionally accept myself and all fellow beings
Exactly as they are. Wonderfully imperfect.
How utterly dull life would be otherwise.
This God chap sounds a bit like a Pantene commercial.
When I say, 'I am free,'
I welcome pain as a wonderful natural warning.
Which prevents me from giving up my freedom.
I know that all 'heartaches' are really ego aches
And that heart seeks nothing, loves everything.
When I say, 'I am free,'
I do not wish to judge.
So I don't.
Judgement is what I am free from.
There is no authority.
Love is unconditional.
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