You snubbed me and the others laughed.
You were right in what you said
But were wrong in the sneering way you said it
And smoothly packaged it in an oily smile.
You hypocrite.
Anger rolled through me
Like a powerful sea-wave,
Drowning the cutting remark
I wanted to make.
All I could manage was the dirty look
And the curse word
I muttered under my breath.
Later the words:
“Forgive and you shall be forgiven,”
Came to mind.
I needed time to work through this,
So I avoided you.
In a calmer mood it struck me:
I can give as good as I get.
So, why not forgive the other’s fault.
It could help him and could help me.
Lord, have mercy.
Columban Fr. Dermot Carthy lives and works in Peru.
The Columbans are a society of missionaries, including priests and lay people, who minister to people of various cultures as a way of witnessing to the universal love of God.