All the religion I ever saw in my life
Was through the stained glass window
Of the church on Main Street

Through the pink paneled glass I saw weddings
Beautiful brides in their rose tinted dresses
Shining brighter than the sun on my back
Their boyish husbands standing nervously at the alter
Their macho confidence bared by the power of a woman

Through the blue paneled glass I saw Sunday morning services
Whole families with grandmas and grandpas and buckets full of children
Packed onto pews as if going on a road trip
Parents’ eyes tired but proud as they see their little boys in their suits, girls in their dresses

Through the green paneled glass I saw the last four pews
The young men and women slipping into them five minutes after sermon had started
Thirsty for redemption
Cleanse me of my sins, my mistakes my shortcomings
Make me new again, born again, green as a newborn child

Through the red paneled glass I saw rage
Couples whisper fighting, accusing
One too many glasses of holy water can do a lot of damage
Attention starved children throwing pencils at each other
Smoking weed out back
Their minds Ferris wheels with nothing to hold them
Spinning and spinning
Rolling, like tires abandoned on a road side, off into the distance

Though the gold paneled glass I see Christmas eve mass
Gratitude and love and smiles so big they’ll crack your face in half
I see Christmas carols
Sung by every man, woman and child
Singing proudly, shoulders back
Through the gold paneled glass I see God
And He is smiling