American Idols
American Idols
I have a secret, I live for a thing
I say I know better, I say God’s my King
But reality’s flesh and questing for bread
Has my vanity seeking its bracing instead
Don’t insult me by saying I “live for the dollar”
Or “happiness isn’t the color of collar”
To say I seek money is crude and passé
I’ve got current names to help forge my way
What’s your god or idol—your reason for being?
That slippery promise you find yourself clinging?
Some live for credit, respect or fame
“For the sake of the Lord, I must have my good name!”
Oh, but that’s silly, I know that the Lord
Does not need the me-driven merits I hoard
He needs no one’s coattails, no one’s good grace
(Although, for myself they’re quite tempting to chase)
Some evolve into living for gods claiming good
In the guise of striving as Jesus would
Their god is their fruit; or guilt makes them give
“If I do this for others, I might truly live!”
For penance or strokes or by misguided notion
The need for good record is cause for devotion
Whatever we value, therefore we seek
In turn, we might give it to those we deem meek
But presuming these others depend on our deed
What do our actions tell them they need?
Some futures are void of divine intuition
“My plans absolutely will come to fruition
With steely might, and my idol: control,
I’ll play my cards right, and not need a soul!”
Some need admiration to keep them in play
“How can I make people love me today?”
In the name of envy, some champion fairness
“If blessed with those things, I’d never be careless
My gifts are not precious, I’d rather be you
If I’ve got some hardship, you ought to have, too”
The Power-god deftly creates a division
“Poor, weak-minded minions need hope from religion
‘Invisible’ God is for those who will fail
The paramount requisite is to prevail”
Some gods will tout no real megawatt worth
They say “Just find meaning in roles here on Earth
Seek no harm or grandness, and you’ll get the nod
Have your hopes to get by, but none to know God”
The god of the past and of circumstance now
Says “Joy’s at the mercy of me somehow!
To ensure good tomorrows, sell out to a plan
That doesn’t depend on divinity’s hand”
Some have been trapped by the god of dejection
Destruction of worth is their only projection
We’re wonderfully made, but their lies will sound true
Like, “We’re not the problem, the filth is you!”
The wisdom of Earth looks you straight in the eyes
And says “Letting go is reeeeeally not wise”
Living for comfort, you won’t have to share
If you don’t have to hurt, you don’t have to care
Logic imprisons with doubt for great lengths
“Just love with your mind, ditch your heart and your strength!”
But doubt’s pregnant bond means Light is nearby
As we wrestle in dust, and lean toward the sky…
We’ll worship talent, depend on success
And with insecurity, pile on excess
“Pick me!” The gods call, “I am what you need
I’m purpose, fulfillment if only you’ll heed”
They thieve us with worry, tell us to begrudge
And offer beholders a conscience to judge
When minds are captive to their cunning quorum
A chance for Christ turns into mind-numbing boredom
They distance the mind from our grave consequence
And deter us from choosing obedience
We prize them intensely, but if one should fall
Life won’t seem worth living, we’ll think we’ve lost all!
And though there’s an Infinite reason to live
That Truth gets denied by the great ego’s sieve
“Seek first the Lord!” Is the cry of the Cross
“All else will lead you to nothing but loss”
But increasing flesh is our near-sighted choice
Creations corruption began with this voice
Why do we, in frailty, seek only fraud?
Crumbling entities rather than God?
No! Let’s climb to the highest terrestrial rung
To the level which we can still carry our dung
And we might hear this, (but we won’t think it matters)
“Heaven’s for people who fall from their ladders”
I said “I believe” when my faith was begun
But I’ve no faith to say “Thy will be done”
Not if it threatens that thing that I grasp
Not if unclenching is what I’m being asked
But now I feel far from anything Holy
I don’t have the strength to resist as gods pull me
Yet, past the veil, surprised, I would see
The arch-god empowering these idols is me
To the heartache of God, who’d fill any taker
The Tempter turns eyes to the made from the maker
Continuing, foolishly acting the pawn
He rusts and reveals what doesn’t live on
Hoping that we will so choose and assume
This decay for our soul’s eventual doom
But how does one find that Great Kingdom shrouded
If beauty means “profit” to eyes that are clouded?
Perhaps to “deserve” isn’t the goal
For that which I earn does not make me whole…
Are my beloved idols my spirit’s demerits?
But if I renounced them, what might I inherit?
The cause of my illness is my woeful crown
My god-centered foolishness won’t put it down
This terminal safety I seek for myself
Is what I consider to be my great wealth
Should I be remorseful? I see no plight!
Half of the world calls my gods a “right”!
The name of my idol? It’s unknown, I’d say
I loathe to acknowledge the weight of my day
I have a secret; I say that I’m free
But this bondage is even a secret from me
My motives are spawned by a hidden infection
It’s daunting to face an impoverished reflection
To keep myself full
I cover my soul
With layers on layers of “rightful” protection
www.IlluminateTheTruth.com 
I love the Screwtape quality to this post. “But the bondage is even a secret from me.” Wisdom–to write and confess. If only we could all be this honest (and creative!). As always, you are amazing.