Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin' so small

Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they'll soon discover
That I don't belong

So I tuck it all away, like everything's okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I'll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the heart again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them

Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain
But if the invitation's open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade

Is there anyone who's been there
Are there any hands to raise
Am I the only one who's traded
In the altar for a stage

The performance is convincing
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart

But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be

Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay






Ironically enough, I had forgotten about this song until I turned on my iPod this morning, and it was one of the first songs on my playlist. It fits so well with not only what I was saying in my last entry, but about how Church has become, not just for me, but for many people. You see it in almost everyone who goes into church Sunday morning. We've developed this feeling that rather than church being a place to come and be ourselves and let Christ work in us, we believe that we have to appear to be perfect.

How many of us are afraid to cry in church about our problems? How many of us are scared of letting the congregation see God touching us in reassurance about those problems, or simply breaking down because of how overwhelmed we are? Why do we feel that we have to be perfect in church, especially when we're not perfect in our lives?

I wonder, how much stronger would the church community be if we weren't so afraid of letting everyone see our hearts?