by Kelly Pelton

The pain of being left out of the deeper thinking circles
of Christian seekers who inspire God's people in their walk - 
It's stayed with me throughout my life until I brought it to Him,
this hurt from being scorned by men so biased in their talk.

I thought they were my people in the family of our Father,
my kindred souls who write and speak to edify His body,
who have important conversations, influencing others
to trust the One whose work in us is never, ever shoddy.

But these who keep the women in restricted roles are lacking
the qualities I long for in my cadre of believers.
They aren't my people after all; I'm on a healing journey
with others who by childlike faith are grace and love receivers.

The pain is gone. Exclusion only hurts us when we're longing
to be accepted as an equal both in being and function
by those who'll never recognize our Father as impartial,
who keep restricting women's roles in church without compunction.