Pastor Mike Erre shared this poem to help visualize what repentance means to him. The reference can be found in the last sermon in EvFree Fullerton’s Sex, Love & God: All Things New.
I
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I fall in.
I am lost… I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes me forever to find a way out.
II
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in the same place
but, it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
III
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in… it’s a habit.
my eyes are open
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
IV
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
V
I walk down another street.
Copyright © 1993, by Portia Nelson from the book There’s A Hole in My Sidewalk. Beyond Words Publishing, Hillsboro, Oregon.