Encounter
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Encounter Lyrics
"We are called to build temples, not to whittle sticks."
I
Sticks and stones
May break men's bones,
But they can never pass for love.
II
I was walking the way of pride
oh so holy
more pure than Heaven herself
and as I strolled in my sanctimony
I spied a wicked man
he was walking the way of evil
oh so decadent
more raw than Instinct itself
and as he wallowed in debauchery
I picked up my stones
I was judging his way of sin
oh so glorious
more law than Moses himself
and as I hurled in my glee
he lifted up a glance
I
Sticks and stones
May break men's bones,
But they can never pass for love.
II
I was walking the way of pride
oh so holy
more pure than Heaven herself
and as I strolled in my sanctimony
I spied a wicked man
he was walking the way of evil
oh so decadent
more raw than Instinct itself
and as he wallowed in debauchery
I picked up my stones
I was judging his way of sin
oh so glorious
more law than Moses himself
and as I hurled in my glee
he lifted up a glance
he was begging the way of mercy
oh so weak
more lame than Pity herself
and as he cowered in his treachery
I brought down my stick
I was beating the way of condemnation
oh so heartless
more cold than Death itself
and as I towered in my savagery
he slumped to the dirt
III
I angrily shoved the thing,
hoping it still had some fight-
sin doesn't go down so easily.
then gradually recoiled from it,
sensing he no longer had life-
blood doesn't color soil prettily.
I fearfully turned him over,
praying he still had a breath-
truth isn't often seen this dreadfully.
oh so weak
more lame than Pity herself
and as he cowered in his treachery
I brought down my stick
I was beating the way of condemnation
oh so heartless
more cold than Death itself
and as I towered in my savagery
he slumped to the dirt
III
I angrily shoved the thing,
hoping it still had some fight-
sin doesn't go down so easily.
then gradually recoiled from it,
sensing he no longer had life-
blood doesn't color soil prettily.
I fearfully turned him over,
praying he still had a breath-
truth isn't often seen this dreadfully.
IV
as if in a mirror
it was my face
bruised tattered afraid
as if in a nightmare
it was my voice
callow crying broken...
the horror
the horror
bang bang and whimper:
'what have I done?'
V
Christ answered me thus:
"You have used my name
to sanction pride
rather than to crush it.
You have used my law
to imprison men
rather than test yourself.
You have used my life
to abuse me
rather than be faithful.
You have used my time
to make weapons
rather than build temples."
as if in a mirror
it was my face
bruised tattered afraid
as if in a nightmare
it was my voice
callow crying broken...
the horror
the horror
bang bang and whimper:
'what have I done?'
V
Christ answered me thus:
"You have used my name
to sanction pride
rather than to crush it.
You have used my law
to imprison men
rather than test yourself.
You have used my life
to abuse me
rather than be faithful.
You have used my time
to make weapons
rather than build temples."
VI
the words barely came,
'shall I perish at your hand?'
the answer loud and clear:
"Do you still not understand my love for man?
Each one is a building
Some already temples
Others being prepared for renovation.
Each one is a shaping
Some already perfect
Others not yet willing to be molded.
Each one has a purpose
Some already achieving
Others far from doing their part.
VII
history is made of all men
some remembered, some forgotten
my kingdom is made of few men
sons remembered, sins forgotten...
when will my kingdom fulfill history?
when will love come completely upon the earth?
when men everywhere understand I AM
when men everywhere forget themselves
when men everywhere erect holy temples
when men everywhere let go"
VIII
'let mankind start tonight then
let us put away our hate
let us lift up our God!
who shall be first?'
the reply was so direct it stung:
"Tonight mankind starts with you."
IX
Sticks and stones
May break men's bones
But they will never rule out God.
the words barely came,
'shall I perish at your hand?'
the answer loud and clear:
"Do you still not understand my love for man?
Each one is a building
Some already temples
Others being prepared for renovation.
Each one is a shaping
Some already perfect
Others not yet willing to be molded.
Each one has a purpose
Some already achieving
Others far from doing their part.
VII
history is made of all men
some remembered, some forgotten
my kingdom is made of few men
sons remembered, sins forgotten...
when will my kingdom fulfill history?
when will love come completely upon the earth?
when men everywhere understand I AM
when men everywhere forget themselves
when men everywhere erect holy temples
when men everywhere let go"
VIII
'let mankind start tonight then
let us put away our hate
let us lift up our God!
who shall be first?'
the reply was so direct it stung:
"Tonight mankind starts with you."
IX
Sticks and stones
May break men's bones
But they will never rule out God.
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