A Life of Light and Shadow

By: Nathan Fletcher

A life where you’ll give your all

to take a conqueror’s reward

and a life where all is taken back,

where breath returns through surrender’s sword.

A life of light and shadow cast,

of standing brave and stumbling fast;

a life you’ll wound and walk away,

and one you’ll slowly learn to trust at last.

A life that’s large and then grows small,

that laughs, that laments, that holds it all;

a life brand new yet ancient-born,

and sometimes feels like none at all.

A life of plenty, a life of lack,

of foolish paths and wisdom’s track;

a life that sees what’s never known,

and one that sees what always comes back.

A life of giving grace away,

and one forgiven day by day;

a life where simple fills the cup,

and one where nothing feels okay.

A life where ego bends and dies,

and soul breaks open, learns to rise;

a life of little feet that run,

and quiet, wrinkled toes goodbyes.

This is the life we’re given here

its joy, its ache, its trembling fear;

the wide, the wild, the worn, the true

the life that keeps remaking you.

For life is the dance of inner chaos

a mystery old and new,

held by the Creator, greater

than the chaos inside you;

where unknowing turns to knowing,

and each step He carries you through.