February 1984

two men came to the Lord

one day

to pray

one stood and spoke

the other

one crept and wept

imploring forgiveness

of the sins he’d done

the proud one stood

thinking of those he

didn’t do

“Thank you Lord,”

he said,

“that I am not he

on his knees

in the dirt.”

with a tear streaked face

he on the floor cried

“God!

be merciful to me

a sinner!”

two men came to the Lord

one day

to pray

one man stayed

forgiven

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”  (Luke 18:9-14)