Somewhere in this world today,
An addict will quit drugs or alcohol.
In a Recovery Program, or try his
own way.
I know it's so cool to have a loser
around.
But give it up, folks, many sober
people abound.
You don't know them because they act just like you.
They don't brag about the gift
of being substance free!
They are teachers, doctors, lawyers, brokers.
So stop sneering when you see
an addict.
Many are more sober and way famous far more
than me or you.
So instead of giving up on a helpless bloke,
Say a prayer that they will be saved and remember..
"There but for the grace of God, go I!"
And that, my friends, is no joke!
September 17, 2020
5:15 am PST
*Being Conned*
Written: by “Miracle Man”
7/16/2018
My entire life I’ve considered myself high strung,
So I’m weary of people who treat me as if dung.
Some people borrow money without repay intent,
Then ask “can I work it out” once it’s been spent.
They look at me and see how I’ve been blessed,
And wanting a slice of my pie they become my pest.
A truism, “A fool and his money are soon parted”
Many times I’ve paid a price for having been bighearted.
I lend and repayment time bears attached strings,
Foolish people lend money so others can do foolish things.
I help the downtrodden sometimes questioning why?
While knowing, “There but For the Grace of God, Go I”
The Things people will SAY in the Confessional!*
Silly things!
…Terrible things!
And then, they go away clean, and I am broken…
These things Christ is supposed to heal, and He DOES heal them, ALWAYS,
But He lets me bear the pain of them, for a time,
So that I will truly desire to be the instrument of His Bestowed Forgiveness
So that I will not condemn, criticize, or judge, or become angry, for…
THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, GO I!
For ALL have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God!
But now, this solemn prayer,
I offer up beside my bed,
Without the Lights On
‘I HATED You, when You took her!’
‘And then, it took me Forever to forgive You!’
‘And when I did, I kept finding dark corners, and little blurts of anger!’
‘GOD FORGIVE ME!’
(for I cannot forgive myself – not for any of it!)
Now, I’ll snap the lights on, and get some rest...?
...and call the Bishop in the Morning!
But... wait... a sudden warmth...
How STRANGE!
Once my head hits the pillow...
PEACE...
IMPOSSIBLE PEACE!
Deo Gratias!
*NOTE: I am NOT a priest or pastor (just imagining myself as one!)
Is there more joy than the sound of a child's laughter
long before they're forced to experience the life ahead
with its many challenges that are
enough to break the strongest will
though most succeed in becoming upstanding
and decent law-abiding members of society
those that don't sadly and for many reasons
are destined to spend their whole lifetime fighting
against an inner force far greater
than they are able to resist or control
those of us that have managed to stay
on the straight and narrow are at a loss to understand
it is for us to feel pity not condemnation
there but for the grace of God go I
of course, there are other factors such as
environment and upbringing but in spite of this
some still do manage to rise above
and become a model or at least law-abiding citizens
those are the ones we need to recognize
and hold in high esteem
just imagine how we would do in the same situation
so before we judge harshly these poor unfortunates
perhaps we should first try to understand
something to think about eh?
An old man staggering and begging
Outside the doors of Walmart…
There but for the grace of God go I
Perhaps most look askance
Not even giving a second glance…
There but for the vagaries of Fate go I
Does the miscreant chuckle to himself
At the naïve charity of strangers
Or does there reside a tear in his eye
His hands tremble…His eyes dart about
Is his sad condition real
Or just a well performed lie
Life’s not always fair
We all bear some sting
Of outrageous misfortune
But some seem to bear more
Than their fair share
A seemingly outsized portion
So how is it that they’re overweight
How can they afford to smoke
How can that be… if in truth they’re truly broke
Perhaps their lives are
Not all that meets the eye
I can only surmise (and sympathize)
And wonder whether
It’s by luck, or fate,
But for grace of god
…Go I…
"There but for the grace of God go I",I heard them say,then they passed an addict begging on the streets and walked away,
They call themselves God's children and through Gods lands they roam,but the homeless don't get charity,cause charity begins at home,
There but for the grace of God go I and don't ya know,don't bother asking for thier help they'll only turn and go,
So much for christian values leave them stacked up in the shelf,they'll tell you God will only help the man who helps himself,
There but for the grace of God go I it's just a farce,so take your Christian values now and shove them up your ****,
It's nothing but hypocrisy it's flagrant and it's rife,ther quick enough to pass remarks on someone elses life,
So ther but for the grace of God go I 'n' aint it true,don't think that you're above it friend,one day it could be you.
I can only imagine
How horrible it would be
In a world of total darkness
If I couldn't hear or see
How would I communicate?
If I could only use my touch
If I couldn't understand it
How would it help that much?
I would never hear "I love you"
Or see a beautiful smile
I could never know the greatest things
That make this life worthwhile
And what about the loneliness
That I would feel inside
I would never know accomplishment
Even though I tried
Now, I may never know their heartache
Nor even probably ever understand why
The only thing I know for sure is
There but for the Grace of God go I
I work in retail. This Tanka sequence was written while I was having trouble with a particular individual:
Homeless and dirty,
Aggressive and obnoxious,
Sometimes even worse,
Though he severely tries my patience,
I let him ramble till he's finished.
Homeless and dirty,
He has a few companions,
Some are young, some old,
On mild California nights
They sleep in deserted parks.
Homeless and dirty,
He often smells of vomit,
Sometimes even worse.
What curse brought him to this awful fate.
There but for the grace of God go I.
Homeless and dirty,
Brain damaged by drugs and drink,
He constantly stinks.
Will an angel descend one clear night
And bathe him in celestial light?
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