Wearing A Hat

There he was wearing a hat In my church alone in a pew there he sat, As I looked at him I was shocked Him I thought should be mocked. I then wondered if also he wore torn jeans I wonder if they were clean, My heart just went aghast At the outward appearance the stranger did broadcast. He was wearing a hat in the house of the Lord I was stunned and angry and floored, I then became one of those judgmental old men Who pointed out everyone else's sin. I was raised in church where we wore our finest clothes Where all dignified women scented like a rose, And all men wore their favorite cologne And their respect to the Lord our God was shown. As our pastor then led us all in prayer I couldn't help, but at the stranger I did judge and stare I thought, ‘didn't that stranger know any better' I wonder if he'll be in our next church letter. Then I felt God placed his hand upon my very spirit The thoughts I had he wanted to clear it, Then in my mind a reasoning God did sow Maybe the stranger didn't even know. Maybe today is his very first day ever sober As I sat in church that early October, Maybe today is the first day he walked through a churches door Maybe all that he had to wear, is what he wore. Then the Lord opened my judgmental eyes That stranger as all others is God's greatest prize, Then I smiled and I also shed a tear I then thanked God that the stranger wearing the hat was here. Randy L. McClave