America, I Have Been There

I’ve been there, America

My very status as a citizen is stained with America’s history;

But I come here today to say

I’ve been there America

My beginnings were humble

I fought and battled to find and secure my identity

I’ve been there, America

I too live as an entity devoted to God,

And I too have failed

I’ve been there, America

There were battles in my life fought between two neighbors,

Two ideas

Two views

Two families

A mother and a father, child on one side of the Mason-Dixon,

The father on the other

Both trying to fight for their views, for what they believe

And in the end, both uniting and separating our common bond

I have been there America

When the economy was high and unemployment was too

I went for the rush

I journeyed to the frontier

I roared in my twenties

I saw the best; I lived through the worst

I’ve been there, America

In a crowd listening to one man fight to persuade me

To tell me has all the answers

I’ve been there when people believed

I know those who have doubted

I am the descendant of those who were marginalized, demeaned, torn asunder, Abused for the color of their skin

America I’ve been there

And America, I still am

America, I’ve been there

I had my bubble

I had oceans separating me from the rest of the world

I had security in who I was, in what I believed

I fought for my security with every able vessel I had

America, I’ve been there

When the world busted my bubble

When the wars outside hit home

When my harbor was invaded

When my towers fell

I’ve been there America

With millions in a church on Sunday after tragedy struck

Suddenly wandering about the God and truths I claimed in times past

Wondering where is the God in whom I trust.

I’ve been there, America

I too have let fear dictate my government

I have shut my borders to friends and foes alike

I cut off travel, I cut off friends and family

I tried to blow another bubble

America, I’ve been there

When all that did not work

When my own people attacked me from within

They shot down my future

My heritage

My offspring

And somehow managed to find a way to say

It was their fault

Yet all lives matter

I drew a form of selfishness and self-preservation

Out of me that I thought died with my ancestors

I feared what I once had confidence in

I allowed corruption, too discouraged to fight

I accepted anything, too apathetic to care

I acknowledge all beliefs, too doubtful of my own

America, I’ve been there.

America, this is where I am, where we are

But this is where we can go

We can embrace reality

We can acknowledge our fear

We can communicate again

We can hear each other’s hurt

We can trust in God

Unlike you America

I know the whole truth

Unlike you America

I know the way back

Unlike you America

I have the Life, above all dreams and aspirations

But Like you America

I have been graced with the ability to still trust in God

I am going to reach beyond my borders and bear the burdens of those who are weak

I am going to house the homeless

I am going to educate all who are willing

I am going to forgive

I am going to listen

I am going to walk in faith and not fear

Let the bombs fall

Let the radiation seep

Let my own and those abroad seek my harm

I will fear no evil, for God is with me.

He is with you.

America, I have been there

America, this is also where we are

America, let’s go.