Sunday, December 06, 2009

Saying & Doing

I was hungry,
and you formed a humanities group to discuss my hunger.


I was imprisoned,
and you crept off quietly to your chapel and prayed for my release.


I was naked,
and in your mind you debated the morality of my appearance.


I was sick,
and you knelt and thanked God for your health.


I was homeless,
and you preached to me of the spiritual shelter of the love of God.


I was lonely,
and you left me alone to pray for me.


You seem so holy, so close to God but I am still very hungry – and lonely – and cold.



The poem above was an excerpt taken from John Stott’s book “Human Rights & Human Wrongs: Major issues for a new century.” This poem was written by a homeless woman in response to a country vicar after appealing for help.


What is our motivation behind doing the 'right' thing? What is the 'right' thing to do anyway?


Instead of genuinely doing something for the sake of another, sometimes it feels as if we've come to a point where doing good, or appearing to do the 'right' thing, is something we do to make ourselves feel or look good.


Looking around made me wonder whether often times we SAY too much rather than DO enough=(