The Backslider Poem by Denis Martindale

When I was young and God was close
And lived inside my heart,
The promises inside me rose
As I made my new start...
I gave my very life and soul
And put them in His hands,
I vowed to grant Him all control,
To old and new commands...

The years rolled by and Church felt fine
With studies, hymns and such
And most of me still towed the line
Until we two lost touch...
Of course, God hadn't moved away...
He never left my side,
But when temptations came to stay,
I lost God as my guide...

My conscience wasn't crystal clear,
There seemed no black and white,
Just twilight, grey and sometimes fear
That followed day and night...
I was a liar through and through,
My vows strewn here and there
And hard to tell God, 'I love You! '
The times I knelt in prayer...

No time machine can take me back,
I can't undo my sins,
Good conscience now, of course, I lack,
As each new day begins...
But while there's faith and joy and love
On offer every day...
Confessing sins, I look above,
With hope I will obey...



Denis Martindale, copyright, July 2012.