I've been thinking a lot of one of my favorite poems,
Invictus,
Which means unconquered.
And even though this poem was first published in 1888,
It seems to be a poem for such a time as this.
It's like we are being called to not only be the Lewis and Clark of the new land that is forming under our feet day by day,
Moment by moment,
But that land deep within ourselves.
And in order for us to move through these times of fear and uncertainty with grace,
With grace,
We have to tap into that land within us.
We have to tap in to our unconquerable soul.
William Henley wrote this poem Invictus at 16 years old when he was in the hospital.
His left leg was amputated and his right leg was being questioned.
Literally,
His very foundation was being threatened.
And I'm sure he wrote this poem to remind himself of a deeper truth.
And today,
To remind me and maybe even you,
The truth that within me,
Within you,
We are not only resilient,
But we are unconquerable.
So when fear taps you on the shoulder and says,
Hey you,
You're supposed to be really,
Really,
Really afraid.
And there will be moments that we are.
But this fear is just a tool,
A springboard,
Which offers us a choice.
We can either dive deeply into fear,
And sometimes we will.
We are human after all,
Or we can choose to dive deeply into our soul,
Where we find love and tender-hearted tenderness for our frightened self,
And courage.
These times are calling us to remember who we truly are,
And what we are actually made of.
Invictus by William Henley Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance,
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeoning of chance,
My head is bloody,
But unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears,
Looms but the horror of the shade,
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years,
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how straight the gate,
How charged with punishment the scroll.
I am the master of my fate.
I am the captain of my soul.
