temptation

i have successfully slain the dragon of temptation this weekend. it felt really, really good. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)

let me share with you something from my journal. i'm not sure it's a poem, per se, but i wrote it nonetheless. a friend of mine was struggling with an addiction at the time, and he inspired me to write this. he never read it. he never got the chance to. however, i think it applies to every person's experiences with temptation.

my life motto is "Here we go." the reason for that phrase's personal significance to me is found in part in this writing.

Trapped

Here I am, surrounded by pain.

I want out, but to where do I turn?

To the left, a future impossible.

To the right, my past mistakes.

A hand reaches down to lift me out,

But as I am raised, something grabs my ankles.

I am forced to turn and fight,

but I have fought too long.

This is my last shot,

One last chance to break free.

As the dragon which is me rears its head,

I square my shoulders and raise my sword.

We shall soon see if they were right,

The nay-sayers who claim that some things never change.

How many times in our wide world

Does an entire life come down to one moment?

And all the paths of our life meet at a single crossroads?

Do or die.

Hit or miss.

Sink or swim.

Here we go.