For if I somehow shift the blame
for all my fear and guilt within,
the foreigners I cannot love
will be the scapegoats for my sin,
as they look evil, I feel good,
and in the name of Christ destroy
the work of Christ, and feel no shame.

Yet Christ was hated and reviled,
and branded as the enemy—
a scapegoat who endured the cross
in love for all, and love for me,
and when I meet you, Lamb of God,
I find myself: convicted, loved,
forgiven, healed, and reconciled.

Enlarge our vision, as you can,
until we see, confess, condemn,
more than the evil others do,
the evils we might do to them.
Renew and cleanse our inmost heart,
till we are looking through your eyes
at every woman, child and man.

            Brian Wren, Piece Together, #126

[Copyright © 1986 by Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 6018. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission]

Whether or not the above ever appears in a hymnal, I am glad I wrote it, and hold to its convictions. In stanza three the phrase "as they look evil, I feel good" succinctly describes the psychological mechanism of projection, and suggests—for those who wish to think about the matter—that "feeling good" in relation to the purportedly evil other is not the same as "being good."

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Contents

Academics | Admissions | Alumni | Works | Listen | Look | Contact | Index | Home | Yale University

Copyright © 2003-2005.  Yale Institute of Sacred Music
409 Prospect Street,   New Haven, Connecticut 06511
Telephone: 203 432 5180    Fax: 203 432 5296