Poem July 31, 1989 Issue

No victim—no victimizer

Joseph Yellis

Again, again, and again, and again—
I was sinned against.
But if I returned a sin for a sin,
would I be more of a man,
or more of a victim
and in turn a victimizer?

I prayed for spiritual illumination
to seek God's guidance
not human retribution.

Then I opened the Bible and
the Word of God opened
my consciousness to a clear
apprehension of His direction—
"Avenge not yourselves, but rather give place
unto wrath: for it is written,
Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."*

There is only one equalizer—God, and
only one equation—infinite good:
healing hurt with love,
disarming hate with forgiveness,
dissolving anger with grace.

Joseph Yellis

*Rom. 12:19.

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