The Deeper Sickness

One man looks healthy

in his tie that sparkles

and his eyes that smile

as he preaches smoothly

about the hard things of life

in a sermon written in a mansion

Another man looks sick

dressed in the ruins of his life

the perfect picture of a victim

waiting to be taken

if anyone wanted to bother

despite the glorious images

of the good looking celebrities many like to worship

children still eat crumbs

and drunks still stagger in the street

behind the pleasant teachings

delivered in the crystal cathedrals

of business and religion

that distract believers from the need to change

lingers the ugly problem of pain

the growling beast of sin

the masses of the forsaken

that need seeking

but maybe the sickest patients

are the ones who say that there is nothing wrong with this

everything is okay just the way it is

as long as we look healthy

saying nice things is better than the trouble

that comes from being changed by the truth

swimming on the surface is safer

than diving into a deeper reality

pretending to be happy is easier

than being filled with joy

looking Holy is more profitable than embracing the tension

that the patients who find healing

begin by admitting that the reality of the sickness

that hides within