"Love is My Religion"

Love is my religion

I would like to lead us all in a prayer

but I can’t

because I am no longer a spiritual man

I used to have faith in something hard to believe

when the feeling overwhelmed and I dared to dream

But it ended before salvation began 

and left me trying to understand

the mysterious ways and illogical plans 

executed by empty hands

I’ve always found words like faith and belief scary

because they take an uncertain investment

The same way I wonder if good luck is always a blessing

Or if letting the chips fall where they may
is no better than uneducated guessing

All I found were unanswered questions 
 

During my weakest moment

my faith didn’t provide the answers I was thinking of

you see, my religion is love

And what I’ve done

in search of the one…

I’ve lived through the crusades

for the love that was made 

without emotional protection

Days spent looking for connections 

when she’s looking for exits

so

now when I breathe
it feels like I’m choking

After all

isn’t praying just some serious hoping?

I admit the secret of a good love is constant confessing

because good love 

doesn’t carry the benefit of guessing

So forgive me my love for I have sinned

and in your name 

I would do it again

Love doesn’t preach
but it will teach you the difference

Between involved and interference

Love doesn’t condemn

it doesn’t pretend

Love spreads

Love is everywhere and then

Love is gone.

It’s been too long 

since I lost my faith

but love doesn’t discriminate 

between the experienced and the beginners

I love my friends, neighbors
and even some of the haters

or should I say,
SINNERS!

I could never understand why bad things happen to good lovers

And the sheer number of those who have fallen in your name

the forgotten to the obsessed

Born-agains try to convert

but love could never be so overt

to love again is blessed

So instead of fixing up your friends

invest
in making sure yours never ends 

and then truer words will never be spoken:

Atheists
are just people who’ve had their hearts broken

Are you ready to pay for your sins all over again?

Are you ready to pay the cost

for the love that was lost?

No matter how rich

there’s always temptation

put your money away... love doesn’t ask for donations

I wondered before 

if love was anything more 

than a crutch for the poor

For those who are lonely

those who are lacking

For those who are trying really hard but it just isn’t happening

But those of us who’ve loved
are given the gift of seeing

There is no perfect being

If we’re lucky 

we’ll be drawn to someone who loves our flaws 

and that’s because
love attracts

it’s a known fact

I won’t have to convince you to switch

when you love
you’re always rich

Since I’ve seen the loving and the vicious

I’ve become spiritual but not religious

But what does that even mean? 

That I’m too proud to get on my knees?

That I’m afraid to love?

afraid to believe?

while she’s accusing me
of spiritual immaturity

I’m sorry

but I don’t need a sign to find
what my heart’s already determined

And you can save your loveless judgment 

because I don’t need another sermon

Just because I didn't believe 

doesn’t mean
I’m a bad person

All these years trying to find

now I learn love is blind

but I’m willing to call your name
one more time 

With a feeling you can’t find in your Sunday book

You can turn from hater to lover with just one look

So from this day forward 

I’m gonna be the love I want to see 

and maybe then

I’ll feel the joy and believe again.

So until then

I’ll keep living
and I’ll keep loving

In spite of a love life that turns up nothing

I’ll keep giving and I’ll keep loving

because salvation is coming

Salvation is coming

2014 Eddie Gomez