Crystal Cathedral

I have seen that crystal edifice

reflecting in the California sun
thinking, one day I would venture in

even though it was built by Protestants

but since the internal feuding
among the primary family of holy
has caused the building to be sold 
to the Catholic diocese of Orange
I might walk in and take a look. 

The grand days of Christmas 

and Easter theater might be gone, 

maybe the mantel will be assumed 
by the new buyers who also like to dazzle

the Almighty, revealing the greatness of God 
in the acoustics of crystal and steel.
Maybe they will also be blinded by the light 
in a building created from ego and vanity.  

I remember the words of Rev. Schuler 
on a flight to L.A. when he was told
he could not put his luggage in a service bay
and he rose up large and shouted,
“Do you know who I am?” 

He thought he deserved special treatment 
as the pastor of this crystal cathedral
a glittering example of his power on earth

a gem too alluring, seducing the caretakers

to indulge in folly and now it is the Catholics turn
to see if they can do any better.