Potential

by James B. Nicola

We do not know if God forgives.
We can’t. When we recite
God saves, God loves, or Jesus lives!—
They may not, or They might.

We graceless mortals, though, can learn
to listen and adapt
to lessons, love our foes, and turn
the cheek that isn’t slapped.

The Perfect Deity cannot;
Perfection is not learned.
So what we’ll get is what we’ve got,
as far as He’s concerned,

as great as He has always been,
and unsurpassed in love,
I’m sure. But we surpass Him in
potential to improve!

Not that I’m proud: Though man alone
enjoys this differential
of bettering himself, it’s on-
ly difference in potential.