I recall he looked at me and said,
I question the choices you have made.
Pity was plain in his eyes to see,
Casting a critical eye o'er me.
Just for a minute I felt regret,
For my aspirations now unmet.
All of the places I could have gone,
The fame and riches I could have known
All the accolades I could have won.
And so many things I could have done.
Fine clothes of the softest silk to wear.
Large house and food of the finest fare.
'Twas then a picture entered my head.
A face racked with pain, and hands that bled.
Eyes that looked into my very soul.
He, the one who died to make me whole.
Forgive me Lord, my selfish thought,
For you, My Lord I count it naught.
If to lose my soul would be my fate,
The whole wide world could not compensate
Copyright Juliette Chamberlain-Bond 2010
Author's Notes
Watchman Nee was born in 1903 in Foochow in China, where His mother dedicated him to the Lord before he was born.
He was an excellent student until forced to give up his studies when he became a Christian.
One day he met up with his old professor who asked him to tea. He then commented to Nee how he felt that Nee had wasted his life. For a few minutes Nee felt ashamed...then he remembered...
I have attempted to reproduce his thoughts at this time.
He spent twenty years in prison for his faith; dying in prison in 1972.
The heritage he leaves, is many of the churches which went underground during the communist years. Only now is the West beginning to see the number of believers in China.
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What a great poem and what a great message. I did not know the story behind Watchman Nee's conversion to Christ and found your closing paragraph really interesting. It made the poem even more special.
