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Final Inspection
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The officer stood
and faced his God.
Which must always
come to pass.
He hoped his shoes
were shinning, just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward
now, Officer, how shall I deal with you?
Have you always
turned the other cheek? To my church have you been true?"
The officer
squared his shoulder and said, " No, Lord, I guess I ain’t,
because all of us
who carry badges can’t always be a saint.
I’ve had to
work most Sundays, and at times my talk was rough,
and sometimes
I’ve been violent because the streets are tough.
But I never took a
penny that wasn’t mine to keep.
Though I worked a
lot of overtime, when the bills got too steep.
And I never passed
a cry for help, though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God
forgive me, I’ve wept an unmanly tear.
I know I
don’t deserve a place among the people here.
They never wanted
me around except to calm their fear.
If you’ve a
place for me here, Lord, it needn’t be so grand.
I never expected
or had too much, but if you don’t… I’ll understand!
There was silence
all around the throne where the saints often trod.
As the officer
waited quietly for the judgment of his GOD
"Step forward
now, Officer. You’ve borne your burdens well.
Come walk a beat
on heaven’s streets, You’ve done your time in hell"
Amen