Close My Ears

Open my ears, or close them, Lord -

Whichever You deem best -

Because my heart is filled with fear,

And I can find no rest

From the onslaught of advice that

To my open mind cascades;

I must admit, I’ve been confused

By what Your people say.

You gave me Your instructions,

But to every paragraph

Every preacher has a thoughtful word

They think they’d like to add.

Every person with a title, and

A half of those without,

Has a special word of counsel

That beclouds my heart with doubt,

So I find myself set on a course

I cannot navigate;

Each path on which I’d venture

Is cut off with yellow tape.

“Spiritually hazardous”

Are the words it sternly warns,

So I quickly make a detour,

Lest I grow a pair of horns;

But of late I’ve started wondering

If, in and of itself,

The tape is a conspiracy

To keep us overwhelmed.

My life is now brim-full of don’ts

With very little do’s,

And when I have to make a choice

I’m far too scared to choose.

My teachers say, “Do as I say

But never as I do”,

And half the things they teach to me

I can’t confirm with You.

So, please open my little ears,

Or close them off for good.

I want to shut the garbage out

And hear the things I should.

Just show me how to live my life,

And how to teach my friend,

And let us hear you clearly

So the confusion will end.