Like it or lump it: you're immortal
You can't satisfy eternal hungers down here
God doesn't begrudge us happiness
Good things and a warm family

But if you try to suck things out of this life
That aren't there
You'll destroy yourself
And others

Fame, nice houses, clothes, cars, fine food and entertaining
Some of you were sold that ticket
You know it's hard
Power and money

It all looks so alluring when you're twenty
By the time you're thirty you begin to wonder
By the time you're forty you know you've been had
(This life is a gateway to eternity)

We know that we're fallen
We seek God's mercy
We enjoy this life
But we know it's not heaven

And we don't try to make a lover divine
We don't try to make a loved one take the place of God
If we try to make a lover divine
We destroy them

This is my wife, my friend
The mother of my children
My partner and confidant
We're working together toward immortal life in God

That all works
That's good
That's doable
Authentic

If we try to make heaven out of earth
We'll destroy the earth
Trying to suck something out of it that's not there
Trying to satisfy hungers that can't be satisfied down here

We enjoy this life
But we know there is more to come
This is not all there is
We are immortal

. . .

copyright 2001, Linford Detweiler