‘Push Pull Enter Exit’ follows on close after ‘Open Doors’ in chronology and theme, as the journey of feeling welcomed and accepted does not end once you get through the front door.
Sometimes, the journey is not always straightforward, and in those moments, God has eternal grace and patience for you as you trust in your own time.
Here are some words from The Poet on writing this poem:
“Trust takes time to grow, especially when it comes to faith. And for those who have been hurt by religious doctrine and bodies, there can be a lifelong process ahead full of unlearning internalised religious harm, understanding and accepting that we are loved as we are and relearning God’s truth over and over again. It can sometimes feel impossible to take on alone and in some instances, the fear of being burned again can push us even further away.
“‘Push Pull Enter Exit’ is a demonstration of how overwhelming facing the unrelenting openness of God’s true nature can be, and the patience of God as we come to Them in our own time.
“God, untainted by corruption by those who use God’s name to enact evil, is the embodiment of complete and serene Love, one that waits and soothes and wants to quench the thirst for hope inside us. And this can be revealed though an environment and people who genuinely reflect all that Jesus teaches us to carry into the world.
“The openness and unquestioned acceptance of One Church Brighton shocked but also encouraged me to allow myself to try again. Through Sunday teachings, volunteering in the church’s community efforts, and spending time with so many incredible members, I feel now that my understanding of God has flourished in a new way. I feel that the kindness I found here has let me see the real Jesus for what feels like the first time, and this poem was born out of that feeling: that the door to knowing God for myself was and is always open.”
Has there been a moment when you experienced God’s patience when a difficult situation knocked you off your feet? What does that experience and this poem bring to mind?