Stranger In Paradise Poem by Randy McClave

Before you condemn the person at the right of you
And before you say the things which are untrue,
Before you tell them that you're a devout Christian
And before you start your preaching.
Before you tell them that they are going to hell
Because their way and life the Bible does condemn and foretell,
And before you do your mocking and also your judging
Because of your own hate, and also your grudging.
Jesus said to love your neighbor as you love yourself
Though many times your neighbor is nothing like the books on your bookshelf,
When Christ was nailed on the cross and crucified
Remember, that for all our sins, our Lord died.
Two criminals also were being crucified at that same site
They were on Jesus's left, and also on his right,
According to the Roman law they too must also die
But, what was their crimes, or sins and why.
The criminal on the right said this man done no wrong
On the cross being crucified with them he did not belong,
He then asked Jesus to remember him in his kingdom
In Gods very own dominion.
The stranger was never asked of his sins or of his crime
Jesus never asked him then, or at anytime,
Then Jesus looked into the strangers eyes
'Today! ' Spoke Jesus, 'You shall be with me in paradise.

Randy L. McClave