Belle, the religions of commercialization all fall short at the seventy yard line -- their goals located in pledges and collection plates -- saving men's souls only occurs to them as an aside -- "the little brown churches in the dell" are where true religion is practiced and still thrives with a soulful intensity and congregations of believers and true God fearing folk -- the kind that freely offer a needy or ill congregation member a helping hand out of love and compassion -- your poem challenges not religions nor beliefs, simply those that use religion as a pretense to fatten their wallets -- I bid you love and peace my dear friend -- Jon Michael

This one touches my heart. Have they shunned you? You tell us how they've grown. I often wonder what football has to do with church, or stock-car racing either. But they still all dutifully pray like they are going off to war in going to die during the game or the auto race. In the race, they sometimes do. And parents pushing their kids to play football to be popular and religious so that they will die of a broken neck or heat exhaustion is a peeve of mine. That's why I quit football in my sophomore year–I like to be beautiful for the women in my life and not all beat up or hulking with muscles to please some macho religion that made no sense at all.

It's a good thing they never crossed the 70 yard line.

Ron

Oh so much to reflect upon, and for many to, too.
it may seem far to simple, but it is in the simplicity of such detail that is most often over looked. xx

Belle,
this is worth serious thought;
i like your phrasing, the absence of preach
but no dodging of the point, a point clearly
made without fudge...Patrick Kavanagh's final line
in 'Epic' comes to mind: "...Gods make their own importance."

John

And so it would seem that churches are
losing their grip, as religion is becoming
a personal journey; however, it takes roots
to get there!!
~La Belle Rouge~
Many thoughts to ponder from your excellent
verse to seek and find!!!

Lady Vivian

I grew up as a good Catholic but became disillusioined with organized religion a long time ago but I have been hearing some good things about some churches that make me think perhaps someday I will rethink religion...
fee

Belle, Yes, we all want to be on a team...

Always,
Deborah

Hello Poetess good to see you writing again, coming back to us with this very powerful peace. What a brilliant use of metaphor time and space.

It has introspection:
"I�m not allowed to judge
so I won�t"
"what about those who never belonged?"

"I wonder if they know they dropped the ball
on the seventy yard line?"
Powerful last line:
And a statement on so many aspects not only on churches but a statement on society as well, belonging and not belonging and what it means.
Liked it much.

A compelling masterful writing by a master poet.
GOD BLESS YOU
Tony

if they didn't drop the ball it was definitely intercepted by the opposing team ...

I understand exactly what you're saying ...... but don't forget, that 70 yards runs both ways ........

Donna

EXACTLY. Couldn't have said it better myself, La Belle! :( Friend of mine's church just told her she can't volunteer to work with the children on Wednesday nights because she doesn't attend Sunday services. The pastor also told her that he knows how to teach the Word the right way, no other church does. REALLY?!?? Time to change churches! No wonder Christians sometimes have a bad name. :(

(((HUGS))) and love, Karla. :(

Very poignantly written. I believe that a lot of churches have dropped that same ball on that same seventy yard line. Deeply moving.
Welcome back, surely have missed you.

Much peace, love and light,
Amber

Wonderfully done, Belle!
Caustically whimsical and yet compellingly philosophical, and in the end... hauntingly profound.
Blessings,
Christine