July 1991
God’s Hatred of Admiration
I hate admiration.
I have no need of it.
Tens of thousands may sing of my worth,
Thousands may preach of my goodness,
Hundreds may write of my ways,
But it moves me not.
I turn away from it.
They say, “Lord, Lord.” but do not the things that I say.
The life that allows my hand to fashion it,
The one who seeks to obey my word,
And to follow in the footsteps of his Master,
Who possesses a humble and contrite heart,
Is the one to whom I will look with pleasure.
From such a heart flows praise and true worship
Whether words be spoken or not.
But he who proclaims my goodness
Without letting me alter his life
Has no part of me.
When I look into the mirror of his life I do not see
the image of my Son.