If I Have Squandered...

“If I Have Squandered Your Gifts, O Dear Lord”

If I have squandered your gifts, O Dear Lord,

     and glorified myself with hoarded wealth;

if I have crucified the Lamb and Word, 

     and planned against my righteous neighbor's health,

then a rebellious son swift to repent

     will not corrupt truth, nor forever break

the law or second-highest commandment;

     instead, your talents now will all awake

in him and in these written lines of rhyme:

     what I am endowed with, I will employ

and with love make the most of my short time,

     and on earth spread and multiply Christ's joy.

For whilst some lust for power or live for blood,

I was formed to see my songs lift Death's hood!  

By Ngoc Nguyen

From: United States