If They're Not Counted, Count Me Out

There is such hope in the stories we’ve been told

Recounted endless times by the aging and old

Tales of peace, worship and holy places

Palaces adorned with gold and lofty terraces

But I’m always left with quiet dismay

Cause I’m told that some of those I love won’t be with

Me

So I’m left behind in an eternal place

Cause the ones who meant the most didn’t receive your

Grace

They called it beautiful, but to me it holds nothing

That is holy

I can only know what I’ve seen

And what I’ve seen is that you’ve made us clean

Given us the right to be anything we want to be

Why would you give me eyes to see, and then deny me

These?

Eternity is a lock found inside our hearts and you’ve

Handed humanity the key

So I won’t be swayed by fantasies of unquenchable

Flames

Or some place of torment, the damned never to see your

Face

We are all your creation

You love us all the same

A father doesn’t sit idly by while his children are

Maimed

I’ve seen true grace

I promise you we will never feel the lick of those

Flames

Where death is, your glory?

Where death is, your sting?

For we are all children of the king

Every last one an eternal being

So I’ll reject your fear and hatred

For I bring good news that will be for all nations!

I’ve seen wholeness in the broken

I’ve seen health in the sick

Why do we stifle the word you’ve spoken?

If it kills me, I’ll tear these walls down brick by

Brick

I’ve seen hospitality in the homeless

I’ve seen light in the darkness

And I’ve seen hope in the damned

So if all that has meant the most to me isn’t present

After my last breath

Count me with the fallen sheep and send me to the

Depths