Some people amaze me. Like the regular church-goer who expresses shock that non-churchee persons do some pretty wonderful Christian-types of service. Religion has identity but no monopoly that restricts goodness from being rendered by others. Becoming holy is up for grabs to anyone who delivers any holy act. Seems every church-goer has a bit of sinner in them and every sinner has their saintly side—so let’s ease up on non-attenders, Okay?

Let’s not label strays by their wayward ways

Or their attendance at Sunday school,

All those who fudge must be slow to judge

Nor worship just to look cool.

Don’t scratch off your list a proclaimed atheist

For divinity any person can know,

A helping hand carries no brand

Holiness has many ways to show.

We clasp our palms and say our alms

A feeble shell of holiness,

Heavenly claim using deity name

Even sinners and bigots confess.

Holiness defined, is truth not blind?

And welcomes all dignity,

Avoid counterfeit in a self-righteous pit

Getting buried in hypocrisy.

Clergy or lay, we all march the same way

As children of our Creator,

Serving fellowman, the best that we can

There is no work that’s much greater.

It is a long fight to keep our hearts right

Shedding shadows of hypocrisy,

Avoiding the shame of some ethics game

Godliness is to do. Not to be.

We don’t have to guess about holiness

In man’s brief march toward salvation,

Feeding the sheep and widows we keep

Produce the needed causation.

Bottom pious line, any faith we define

By our efforts and selfless labors,

Grace as a crutch won’t yield as much

As giving relief to our neighbors.

So may we be found heavenly bound

Serious in fellowman’s cares,

Holiness cemented, must be implemented

While our halos are in for repairs.

Don Aslett of McCammon is the founder of The Museum of Clean, 711 S. 2nd Ave., Pocatello, and still enjoys giving tours to all visitors. Check out the museum’s website at www.museumofclean.com.