There is not much I can add here to what you will read below

My poem, “Don’t Judge me Brother,” has truly brought about some wonderful dialogue. 

So much so, that I feel I should clarify what I was saying but in attempting to put it in rhyme I believe I lost some of what I wanted to say.  One cannot justify murder.  We cannot make excuses for stealing and we cannot make excuses for hatred.  These things we see and we must be willing to see what we see for what it is.

The point I was making with my poem was that we should judge ourselves and realize that we are not perfect.  This leads us to confess our sins and shortcomings and try harder to please our Lord.

If my poem did not reflect all of this I feel I should point out that I truly believe in God and Jesus and because I do, I know myself for who I am.  I confess everyday for I am not yet made perfect.

If I judge you, I judge myself with the judgment with which I judge you.  If I am critical of you I am guilty of judging you.  Judgment should be something I consider for myself.  I will let God Judge you.  He is prone to be fore forgiving than I am.  When he is angry, you will feel his wrath, as will I.

I quoted Jesus when he said, “you judge a tree by the fruit it bears.”  I believe he meant just that.  If it has pears on it, it is not an apple tree.  Jesus also said, “As you judge others, so shall you be judged.”

I truly believe what he meant is this:

            I am truly better off if I spend more time scrutinizing myself and take a forgiving attitude toward my Brothers and Sisters in Christ.  He will forgive me but he wants me to admit there is something to forgive.

            In the meantime, I am trying to become more in tune with his ways and less likely to sin.  Less likely to hate or to put down someone who does not believe in God in the same way I do.

Moreover, I am thrilled with the feedback because dialogue like this is how we all grow in Christ.  I praise you and I pray for you all.

            May God be with us all, now and forever.