Reflections: On Worldliness ("Londoners")

The term worldiness conjures up images of immorality and godlessness. That is certainly true in practice, but in essence it just means being like the world.

Oswald Chambers powerfully captured the truth about worldliness in his poem entitled "Londoners" (April 4, 1894). Try thinking about your town in place of London.

Busy, driving, rushing Londoners,
Driven, palefaced, wiry blunderers,
Striving ever,
Praying never,
Busy, driving, rushing Londoners.

Thoughtless, flippant, godless Londoners,
Tricky, grasping, cruel plunderers,
"Doing" ever,
"Done by" never,
Thoughtless, flippant, godless Londoners.

Tired out, weary, haggard Londoners,
Beer-sopped, feeble, worn-out conjurers,
Struggling ever,
Resting never,
Tired out, weary, haggard Londoners.

Silent, lifeless, buried Londoners,
Death and Time have proved true sunderers,
Gone for ever,
Remembered never,
Silent, lifeless, buried Londoners.