Gary Field
DC# M05398
Dorm E1-103
Century C.I.
Century, FL
32535

THE TESTIMONY

The view that I once had of sin,
Was not through another man's eyes.
Perhaps, unlike you, I once sat in pew,
While wearing a clever disguise.

But beneath my cloak of righteousness
I'd just built a house of lies.

I took pride in my humility
And I saw no contradiction
Now I realize what a mockery
I'd once made of the crucifixion.

I had put a new coat on the old man -
Instead of the other way around.
It may have looked good from the outside,
But the new man was totally bound.

Like a gracious host, I'd asked the Holy Ghost,
To come in - and make himself at home.
He took a look around, and what he found,
Was all the rust there beneath the chrome.

My "pious grin" had just hid the sin,
Of a publican that only brags
And that "new coat" I'd put on the old man,
Was in reality - just filthy rags.

My vanity, and my inequity,
Had been defining my circumstance -
I dropped to my knees with a tearful plea,
I simply begged for another chance.

I said I would not rest until all my lies,
Had been dispossessed, and evicted.
No more lies and no more alibis -
Then I confessed and I was convicted.

Well, no "hot coals" had touched my lips,
And no angels suddenly appeared -
No trumpets blew and no veil was ripped
But all those dark, dark clouds had cleared

I tremble to think if I waited a while,
And got caught up in a deserted "I'll" -
I'll wait, I'll see, I'll pray - I'll think about it.
I'm almost convinced, but still, I doubt it.

I hope you don't just sit on the fence,
And have to hear the words, "Get thee hence."
Oh my God...
"I never knew you, get thee hence."

So, don't get caught in "a grippa denial",
In which you were "almost persuaded."
You may find yourself in a deserted "I'll" -
Wishing that you had never waited.

Well, it's not easy to admit these things
To talk of the mask I used to wear.
It's a painful thing to lift the lid,
On my past shame like this and share.

But if I can reach just one man,
Touch a heart, or help to save a soul.
Perhaps help someone to understand,
Then it would be a worthy goal.

If they can learn from my mistakes,
Avoid the pain that I've endured.
If I can spare them the heartaches
Help them to have their soul restored.

Then my time spent close to the fire,
And all those times that I have felt the pain,
Might just edify and inspire -
And my journey won't have been in vain.

Gary Field
www.betweenthebars.org/blogs/1398

Printed by Freddie Lee Haliburton, Sr.