CONFESSIONS OF A HYPOCRIT      

I HAVE RUN UNTIL FAINT AND CRIED " NO MAN CARES FOR MY SOUL".
BUT DO I CARE FOR OTHERS?

I HAVE STRETCHED FORTH MY HAND, BUT NO MAN REGARDS MY SUP-
PLICATION. STILL I HAVE NOT FILLED THE CUP OF THE POOR OR HAD
MERCY ON THE OUTCAST.

I HAVE CALLED OUT IN ANGUISH OVER THE CANCER IN MY SOUL. BUT
I HAVE MADE NO MOVE TO HEAL THE LEPER.

I HAVE NOTED WITH SUCCINCT AND CERTAIN SIGHT THE MOTE IN MY
BROTHER'S EYE, BUT HAVE NOT CONSIDERED THE BEAM IN MY OWN EYE
ALTHOUGH I STUMBLE OVER IT.

I HAVE POINTED WITH ACCURATE AND ACCUSING FINGER AT THE SEEM-
ING HYPOCRISY OF MY BROTHER, BUT HAVE TAKEN NO EXCEPTION TO
MY OWN GROSS CONDUCT.

I HAVE PREACHED AT THE STUMBLING BLOCK THAT OTHERS CAST DOWN,
AND NEGLECT THE MILLSTONE ABOUT MY OWN NECK.

I HAVE ANSWERED THE QUESTIONS AND RELIEVED THE DOUBTS OF EV-
ERYONE ELSE, BUT I CANNOT STOP THE STORM OF FEAR IN MY OWN
HEART.

I HAVE EMPHATICALLY STATED WHAT IS GOOD FOR OTHERS, BUT I
HAVE CRIED THAT MY OWN SALVATION IS ONE OF PRIVATE MATTER.

I HAVE JUDGED OTHERS BY THEIR ACTIONS AND HAVE PREJUDGED
OTHeRS I HAVE NOT SEEN, BUT I CALL AN UNPROBED JUDGEMENT AGAINST
ME A TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE AND BEG NO MAN DISPUTE MY WAYS TILL
HE HAS WALKED A MILE IN MY MOCCASINS.

I HAVE SAID " OH GOD, GIVE ME LIGHT " AND HAVE HID IT UNDER A
BUSHEL.

I HAVE BEGGED FOR TALENT AND BURIED IT IN THE GROUND.

I HAVE SOUGHT THE TRAIN TO THE HOLY CITY, BUT HAVE PURCHASED
NO TICKET BUT MY OWN.

I HAVE CRIED " HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, " IN THE COMPANY OF OTHERS
BUT HAVE BLASPHEMED IN PRIVATE.

I HAVE CRIED " HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, " IN PRIVATE AND BLASPHEMED
IN THE COMPANY OF OTHERS.

I HAVE TOLD OTHERS TO BRIDLE THEIR TONGUE AND HAVE SPREAD A
DEADLY GOSSIP.

I HAVE SHOUTED, " CAST ALL ON JESUS," AND CARRIED MY CRUTCH
BENEATH MY COAT.

I KNOCK TO ENTER BUT ALLOW NO MAN TO TRESPASS MY BOUNDARIES.

I SEEK TO FIND BUT HOLD NOTHING SACRED THAT IS REVEALED TO
ME.

I WRITE GREAT EPISTLES TO THE INSTRUCTION OF OTHERS, BUT AM
MYSELF A STRANGER TO LEARNING.

I HAVE DEFLATED THE EGO OF OTHERS AND HAVE INFLATED MY OWN TO
BURSTING.

I HAVE SENT THE GOSPEL TO THE HEATHEN, BUT REGARD NOT THE
HEATHEN IN MYSELF.

I HAVE TORN DOWN AND BOMBED THE TEMPLES OF IDOLATORS, SMASH-
ING THEIR FALSE GODS, AND WORSHIP THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR

I HAVE GIVEN GREAT AND EXACTING SUMS TO GOD UNDER THE SCRU-
TINY OF OTHERS, BUT HAVE CLAIMED THE RIGHT TO DO AS I PLEASE
WITH THE REMAINDER.

I HAVE BEEN GENEROUS TO THE ADVERTISED CHARITIES AND BEEN
STINGY TOWARD THE OLD, AND SICK, THE POOR, THE WRETCHED,AND
THE NAKED AND THE BLIND.

I AM MOVED TO TEARS OVER THE INABILITY OF OTHERS TO SEE GOD,
BUT WOULD BE STRUCK BLIND BY HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS SHOULD I BE
ABLE TO PERCEIVE IT.

I HAVE READ TO OTHERS OF GOD'S HEALING AND HAVE BRUSHED BY
THE HEM OF CHRIST`S GARMENT WITHOUT TOUCHING IT.
I HAVE POINTED OTHERS TO THE INSTITUTION OF RELIGION AND HAVE
TRODDEN HIS BLOOD SOAKED ROBE BENEATH MY FEET.

I HAVE TOLD OTHERS NOT TO DARE THE ALMIGHTY AND HAVE WHIS-
PERED " WHERE IS THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING " .

I HAVE ALLUDED TO FAITH AS THE KEY AND HAVE SOUGHT AFTER
SIGNS AND FALSE PROPHETS.

ABOVE ALL ELSE I HAVE LOVED MYSELF, AND HAVE NOT LOVED THE
LORD MY GOD WITH ALL MY SOUL AND ALL MY HEART AND ALL MY BE-
ING.

" DEAR GOD FORGIVE " 1979

WILLIAM EVERYMAN