Show Me

This last week I have been having some interesting conversations with various people about the church and about hope. As a youth leader I talk to teens a lot and am in contact with teens a lot, so I am aware of the issues they face and some of what goes on in their heads. In saying that, I am also aware that suicide is a very real issues with teens these days, and I've come face to face with more teens who are struggling with suicidal thoughts. I'm supposed to be giving them hope! So I started to study hope in my Bible and it lead me on an interesting journey, and lead me into some awesome conversations with different people, about our roles as Christians and as a church, but the conversations also lead, to how the church (church in the broad term, not just mine), has fallen short, and become confusing for teens. 
Feeling inspired by my study on hope and the conversations I'd been having I wanted to write a poem about hope, but it actually turned into a cry for hope from what I think a teens perspective may be! It's titled "Show Me"

SHOW ME

You look at me and say there’s more,

 But all I feel is shame, loss and an open sore.

Standing with your hands in the air proclaiming to follow the One,

While I’m right here with marks on my arms wondering where it begun.

On the one side you have the cotton candy and the other you have the vigilante.

Both proclaiming the Name but I’m still lost, confused, and unclaimed.

If there’s still more then please, you got to show me.

Cuz I’m about to burst write it off, come undone at the seam.

What is this promise and future you say I have? All I know is some Man got stabbed!

Is that supposed to bring me life and hope?

Cuz all I see are lifeless people who would be better off smoking dope.

 Still more? then please you got to show me!

Cuz I’m about to burst, write it off, come undone at the seam!

Walk the straight and narrow, is what they’re say’n and proclaim

But I’m confused because to me it all looks the same!

Peace, love, and joy sounds nice, but I just feel like I’m stuck in a vise.

Forgiveness and compassion? But when I walk in all I get is a bash’n

Please if there’s more, then you got to show me.

Cuz I’m about to burst, write it off, and come undone at the seam.

I’m over here cryin and hidin trying to decide if what you’re saying is real

Or just a check-list so on that day you can say you got the seal.

I get judged for being fake, I get judged for being real.

So please if there’s more then you got to show me

Cuz I’m about to burst, write it off, and come undone at the seam.

There’s a church on every corner, but I’m about to call the coroner.

All I see is just a name there is no life behind what you claim.

Here I am filled with doubt, but I’m calling you out!

I don’t have a degree and I don’t know about theology.

But if there’s more, then come on! You got to show me!

Cuz I’m about to burst, write it off, and come undone at the seam.