Judge Not

I was shocked, confused, bewildered

As I entered Heaven’s door,

Not by the beauty of it all,

Or its light or its decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven

Who made me splutter and gasp.

The thieves, the liars, the sinners

The alcoholics and the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade

Who swiped my lunch money twice,

Next to him was my old neighbour

Who never said anything nice.

Bob, who I always thought

Was rotting away in Hell,

Who was sitting pretty on cloud nine,

Looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus; What’s the deal

I woulod love to hear Your take

How’d all these sinners get up here?

God must have made a mistake.

And why is everyone so quiet

So sombre – give me a clue,

“Hush child,” He said,

They’re all in shock.

No one thought they’d be seeing you!”

This poem was contributed to The Bridge by Chris Atkins and reproduced in The Courier page 35, Wednesday June 13.

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