The rogue and the priest

One day a rogue went to a priest:
‘I know I have sinned’, said the rogue
‘But what sense can I make of it?
If I place my hand, which is cold
On my head, which is hot
What should I feel - hot or cold?’
The priest replied:
By your words you already know God
How else would you recognise your misdeeds?
‘Except I am ashamed’, said the rogue.
Then be still
God has already whispered your name
Besides, who would not prefer a genuine rogue
To a false saint?
‘I only pretend to be myself?’, said the rogue.
Ah, replied the priest
Pretending to be yourself
And being yourself
Are two different things.
It’s never too late to be honest
Change is a constant
When your enemy is yourself
Somebody has to lose.