"Gates of Heaven" by Johann Baptist Zimmermann‘This Is the Choice’: A Poem by Michael Charles Maibach The Society June 23, 2023 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 5 Comments . This Is the Choice The gates of hell Closed from within. No one sends us— We lock ourselves in. . The gates of Heaven Are open and true, Welcoming souls who Choose to walk through. . This is the choice— One all of us make. God will walk with us, If His path we take. . . . Michael Charles Maibach began writing poems at age nine. Since then he has continued writing poems, and sharing them with friends. His career has involved global business diplomacy. He is a native of Peoria, Illinois. Today Michael resides in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. More of his poems are found at www.MaibachPoems.us or on Facebook. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Trending now: 5 Responses Roy Eugene Peterson June 23, 2023 The first verse reminds me of the song, “Hotel California.” “You may check out anytime you like, but you can never leave.” Pithy poem with a clear message. Reply David Whippman June 24, 2023 A concise reminder – whatever one’s faith – that we have choices, and they have consequences. Reply James Sale June 25, 2023 Thanks Michael – it’s very true that people choose to go to hell and override their own consciences – thanks for the pithy reminder! Reply Joshua C. Frank June 25, 2023 Yes, people wonder how a merciful God can send people to Hell. The fact is that people who commit grave sins reject God’s mercy because they prefer living away from God and His love, and the only place where that can happen in Hell. In fact, some theologians believe Heaven and Hell are the same place, that the fires of Hell are God’s light, which those who reject Him hate. Reply Margaret Coats June 26, 2023 Brief and pointed, Michael. “This is the choice/One all of us make.” Isn’t that the truth! The difficulty is choosing God’s path when such a vast number of us choose our own opinions as to “what I think is God’s path.” May more of us have the humility to consider this matter with the greatest care. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Roy Eugene Peterson June 23, 2023 The first verse reminds me of the song, “Hotel California.” “You may check out anytime you like, but you can never leave.” Pithy poem with a clear message. Reply
David Whippman June 24, 2023 A concise reminder – whatever one’s faith – that we have choices, and they have consequences. Reply
James Sale June 25, 2023 Thanks Michael – it’s very true that people choose to go to hell and override their own consciences – thanks for the pithy reminder! Reply
Joshua C. Frank June 25, 2023 Yes, people wonder how a merciful God can send people to Hell. The fact is that people who commit grave sins reject God’s mercy because they prefer living away from God and His love, and the only place where that can happen in Hell. In fact, some theologians believe Heaven and Hell are the same place, that the fires of Hell are God’s light, which those who reject Him hate. Reply
Margaret Coats June 26, 2023 Brief and pointed, Michael. “This is the choice/One all of us make.” Isn’t that the truth! The difficulty is choosing God’s path when such a vast number of us choose our own opinions as to “what I think is God’s path.” May more of us have the humility to consider this matter with the greatest care. Reply