A Letter from the Bride to Friends of the Bridegroom

This is an idea I’ve been working on… a letter from the church to those who manage it. What do you think?

To Friends of the Bridegroom:

I am so very tired. You say you are friends of my Beloved. So why do you work me so hard? Why do you have so many expectations and place so many demands on me? You complain about my spots. But they are calluses formed by your industry. You complain about my wrinkles. But they are symptoms of the fatigue you have induced. I never sleep because you won’t let me rest. I never rest because you won’t let me stop. I am beleaguered by your ambitions.

You have so much vision for who I should be that you no longer know me. I am a complete stranger to you. I was beautiful once. He saw me. He pursued me. He courted me. He betrothed me. But you have forgotten this and have forgotten me. You do not respect me. So I fear you do not respect him either. You are repulsed by me. Yes I am plain. But I am lovely. Yes I am unadorned. But I am ravishing. But your eyes are so filled with ideas and ideals, visuals and visions, goods and goals. You no longer see me. You don’t know me. I am fading from the earth and you are replacing me with a hideous imitation, a compilation of all your fantasies.

I am generous, kind and compassionate. But no one sees this anymore because of all the silly games and agonizing agendas you relentlessly push me into. If you would leave me be and let me be, perhaps you would rediscover my beauty, my allure, and my generosity to all who approach me and to all to whom I draw near. Oh how I would love to embrace so many friends in my arms. But they are tied with your intentions.

I am beautiful. I am wise. I am humble. I am compassionate. I am waiting.

You don’t love me. I have been betrayed by the friends of my Beloved.

no longer yours,
The Bride