Here’s a poem I wrote last July.  At times I am still mystified when others do not see how much light is bursting to be set free inside of them.  A beauty and goodness that sparkles deep in their eyes, but something is missing…  They are foreign to the freedom I know.  There is a darkness holding them down, and they don’t know how or where to go to find the light.  At times they search.  Often times, though, they just ignore.

I think people stay in darkness out of the fear that bringing their “bad” into the light could push them further into the unknown; the unaccepted.  There is a safety in pretending to accept our flaws by hiding them or even flaunting them.  A security in believing that nothing can ever change us or that there is no reason we should change.  At the end of the day, psychology has taught me that no one wants to experience the cognitive dissonance that occurs when our attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors don’t match up.  I’ve been there before.  Eventually, those three things have to be in line with one another, and sometimes, we choose to ignore the light in all three.  Sometimes, we can become very dark people and accept the chains that darkness brings.   Personally, freedom and light are what I want to choose no matter what the cost.  When I feel weighted down by the choices I’ve made; when I can tell darkness is trying to seep back in through the daily temptations all around; I look up.  I remember who is to be first and why.  I pray to let the light of The Spirit spread to the darkest corners of my heart to clean up the messes I’ve made.  I accept the scandal of grace.

A Poet’s Soul  

Someone with a poet’s soul

Never taught what to believe.

No light to shine on his darkness

An eerie song alone in his parade.

 

Shadows circling all around

Dancing to his misguided steps.

Cheerful in his solemn self defeat

Wicked laughter echoing.

Another end of day.

 

But there ahead through dim street lights

A brighter glow; a gleam to boast.

Internal sunshine beaming

from a hope not found in most.

 

His poet soul stands still

And awakens by the light.

A wave of mystery surrounds her.

The shadows mock

their laughter tight.

 

For darkness knows

when it has met its match.

But it will try harder to bring him down.

 

Because someone with a poet’s soul

Never taught what to believe

has to choose

to walk toward the light

to lift his darkness

to begin another day.