People are outside looking in

Seeing the lights, the crowds and hearing the voices inside

But it’s all too familiar of a sight for tired eyes

So they keep on walking because they’ve been in there before

Oh, so long ago they remember being inside of those doors

Amidst a group claiming to be so loving, but all too human for the rest

Trying to be inclusive to anyone willing to walk in the front door

But can be as exclusive as a Hollywood nightclub to those on the outside

Some have been there, sat in the back and were acknowledged once

Others came in scared and alone, sat in the seats among the rest, only to leave unchanged

Seeking for the secret that brings such masses together, but finding a cliché

Seeing outsiders in your circle is sometimes so hard to do, because we get into routines

You come in, take the bulletin and find your seat

Casually talk to the people around that you have seen before

Sing along during the songs and listen quietly during the message, maybe take some notes

Only to leave just like you came, passing so many others just like yourself

And it repeats like this week after week, or at least that’s the pitfall

We get into a routine where we come to be fulfilled, taken care of and healed

And listen week after week to another message about loving others and God’s love for us

But too often we get caught up in ourselves and miss the outsider stumbling in

Forgotten and alone they sink to the back of the crowd

Are casually greeted and then left alone for the rest of the time

They’ll be lucky if they are talked to again before they walk out the doors

Only to realize that these insiders are just like the people outside these walls

Why would they be any different?

So, they walk out the doors and leave disappointed

Cursing God and calling us hypocrites because we don’t practice what we preach

And we wonder why there are so many people just like them who despise us

Giving us bad names because of one bad experience they had and didn’t choose to return

So I end with this for anyone who’s been left out and forgotten about

I am sorry for the way that you’ve been treated, it shouldn’t have happened but we’re all human

We really didn’t mean to overlook the fact you’re new, forget you or just plain leave you out

And we’re trying to get it right, but we’re still human after all

And when the times come that we can’t reach you, God’s still there

He’s reaching out with loving arms continually to you

He’ll never leave you or forget you even when the church makes mistakes and overlooks

He’s still watching and waiting, all you have to do is ask Him to rescue you

¶ 21:56