“I Walk”

Autobiography in Five Short Chapters
by Portia Nelson

I
I walk, down the street,
there is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in … I am helpless … It isn’t my fault …
It takes forever to find a way out.

II
I walk, down the street,
there is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend that I don’t see it. I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in the same place,
but it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

III
I walk, down the street,
there is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there. I still fall. It’s a habit.
My eyes are open. I know where I am.
It is my fault. I get out immediately.

IV
I walk, down the street,
there is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

V
I walk down another street.

***

He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out from the bog and the mire,
and set my feet on a hard, firm path,
and steadied me as I walked along. 
He has given me a new song to sing, of praises to our God.
Now many will hear of the glorious things he did for me,
and stand in awe before the Lord,
and put their trust in him.
Psalm 40:2-3 Living Bible