I received an email this morning from a friend inviting me to her church for Easter morning services. Then she proceeded to judge me for my beliefs, since they were so different than hers.

I have repeatedly been in this situation. I have my own beliefs. I do not judge yours. Please do not judge mine. The church preaches tolerance except when it comes to differing beliefs. Yes, I'd love to talk to you about what I believe, as long as you have an open mind. I will listen to your valid arguments but the argument that "the Bible says so" is not a valid argument. I want you to think for yourself. Tell me what you feel is right and why.

I have studied and researched many beliefs and organized religions. I have found my path. Is your path one of choice, necessity, ease or familia/peer pressure? 

I follow Christ's teaching but not the Christian Way. If you want to know the difference, ask me. Or research it for yourself. I believe the Easter Holiday should be about Christ's Resurrection and not the Crucifixion. I believe the Easter Holiday is Holy and I celebrate it in my own way.

"As it is, these remain: faith, hope and love, the three of
them; and the greatest of them is love."  ~1 Corinthians 13:13

If only we could live our lives from love, the world would be a better place.

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I admit, I did not write this poem from a place of love. I did write it as a response to the email I received. My apologizes.

save your judgement
 

Judge not lest yea be judged
but yet you judge me anyway
your book is so important to you
but have you really read it?

What is more important to you,
our friendship or my soul?
must be neither if you attack me so,
judge not lest yea be judged.

judging me just shows
that you have a need to judge,
do you feel better about yourself?
but yet you judge me anyway.

I have my beliefs, and you yours,
though similar, they’ll never be the same,
my truths don’t come from a book while
your book is so important to you.

 “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”
is the only statement biblical scholars concur,
that, in the Bible, Jesus, Himself, spoke,
but have you really read it?

by Shawn Ann Murray ©2011

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This poetic form is called a Cascade  and is a creation of the poet Udit Bhatia. The rules:

• The first stanza can be any length
• Each subsequent stanza must use a line from the first (in order) as the final line of that stanza -- until all the lines from the first have been used.
• And that's it. No restrictions on meter or rhyme.

(paraphrased from the article Poetic Asides by Robert Lee Brewer in the February 2011 issue of Writer's Digest)