Forgiving Yourself

Any forgiveness that you think you need will have to come from within yourself. The Demons that are chasing you come from your past.......from the way you were treated as a child to the decisions you've made as an adult. I don't care what anyone tells you.....the only way to move on is for YOU to either forgive the ones who hurt you, or come to the point where it doesn't matter anymore. Then you HAVE to forgive yourself. Only YOU can do that, and you will have to, before you can believe that God, or whatever greater power you belive in, can forgive you, too. Only then will you overcome the pain in your heart and soul and the addictions that were caused by that pain.

While I have many regrets in my life, I am secure in the knowledge that I did my best (at the time) even though some of my decisions were pretty stupid, and that my family loves me. However, it took a lot of years for me to get to this place.  Also, while I don't believe in organized religion, I DO believe in spirtuality and that we are not alone in this universe. And last, but not least, I quit asking myself what I could have done differently, for that is an exercise in futility. Acknowledge mistakes, apologize for them (once) and go on with your life, trying your best to be better.

I hope that the poem,which resulted from these thoughts, strikes a chord with you. To me, it reflects our insecurities and personal terrors then expresses our hope and faith in, not only our spirituality, but in human kind, in general. Remember, only YOU have the power to change your life. Recognize it, grab it, and run with it.

Daring to Hope

You feel the darkness pressing in
squeezing out your breath
Trying hard to think about anything but death

Gazing across a foggy field
straining so to see
Skeletal arms branching out
from a dying tree

A pale, weak moon tries to shine
but fails to light the way
As shadows dance across the night
and lead your thoughts astray

Is it there? Is it real? Or just
imagination
Terrifying figures swarming in
conflaguration

What begins as a whisper becomes
a screaming howl
When the monster there before you
stops to lift its cowl

Looking into the abyss you
start to lose your mind
Then realize that the horror
is only human kind

Bowing down to beg the Lord
to save this fragile world
A light brightly radiates
a soul becomes unfurled

Casting upwards with a song
hearts are filling up with peace
Crying out in great relief that His
love will never cease

With ever growing hope, this
promise we embrace
That our God will always be there
with His perfect grace