Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Life Half-Lived

A few months ago I read a post by Big Mama about letting go of the fear in her life and truly giving it to God. I wrote this poem in response:

The Fear of Letting Go

The fear of letting go grips my heart.
I long to run, I yearn to fly, I need to create.
My heart turns cold.

I fear being nothing.
I fear losing everything.
I don't want to waste my life.

I'm tired of trying to please everyone.
I'm tired of falling short.
I'm falling apart at the seams.

I long to feel the warmth of the sun.
To stand on a hill with the wind in my face.
Holding nothing back.

I am released from this half-life of fear.
I will let myself be shattered.
Free me and make me whole again.
3/1/08
I am generally a very private person but in my quest to become more of the person God made me to be, I have chosen to process my thoughts and feelings out loud. Perhaps to give myself some sort of accountability or just to be more open and known to others? Maybe some of these ramblings will help someone else? Maybe this is some form of therapy for me? Whatever it is, bear with me!
I have been told before that I am too serious and that I think about things too much but as I expressed in my poem, I'm so tired of trying to please others and not be myself. I don't want to worry about being too much for some and not being enough for others. I am who I am and it's time for me to accept this and stop hiding the real me. I grew up hiding my true thoughts and feelings and I have found that the habit has stuck. It's time for me to realize that God loves me and accepts me "just as I am" as the old hymn goes. That is enough for me. I don't have to hide anymore.
The song Unbreakable by Fireflight perfectly expresses what I am trying to say, "God I want to dream again, take me where I've never been. I want to go there, this time I'm not scared!".

Jen

3 comments:

Amber G. said...

Wow. AMAZING poem. Totally inspired and TOTALLY what I needed to read right now. Thank you for your vulnerability and honesty. I'm right there, giving the fear up and trusting God -- maybe a little differently than what prompted the words in your poem... but giving it up nonetheless.

Anonymous said...

That's my girl....

J said...

So beautiful, Jen. Thank you for sharing. I find that it's hard for me to put myself out there, too. I think God has given you much creativity and wisdom to share.