I Didn't Do It

A Poem From 1990

Do to others, as you would want them to do to you.

I didn’t bind up the broken-hearted,

I didn’t even look to see if they were wounded,

when I did - I left someone else to do it.

Now that I am broken-hearted,

no-one is binding me up.

I didn’t proclaim freedom for the captives,

I only cursed them for being so stupid as to become captives.

Now I am a captive,

no-one is proclaiming freedom to me.

I didn’t proclaim release from darkness for the blind,

I only criticised them for not seeing.

Now that I am blind,

no-one is proclaiming release for me.

I didn’t proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour,

I only proclaimed the Law,

I only played the Pharisee.

Now that I need it,

I do not see it,

except as a theological concept.

I didn’t comfort those who mourned,

I didn’t provide for those who grieved,

I didn’t pour out on them beauty, gladness and praise.

Now I see who cares for me

Now I see who notices that I had gone

Now I see how little I care

Now I see how poor I am

Now I see how I am reaping what I have sowed

Now I see the need to change.