Shadow and Light

​Shadow and light
Hidden in plain sight
What’s wrong and what’s right
Find your delight

Embrace your true nature
The good and the bad
Capacity for joy
Not hard to be sad

Let go of the bad things
Let go of the fear
Soothe pain without harm
Peace can be near

Transgress if you must
Not well will you feel
Choice gives us power
There’s a way we can heal

Misgivings and loneliness
Hurt feelings and pain
Take them away please
Remove their harsh stain

Give yourself to great purpose
Submit will and desire
Find passion and direction
Your life will inspire

Unburden your conscience
Unload all your guilt
Forgiveness will lift you
Strong character will be built

If you make better choices
Be a moral human being
Concern for more than yourself
Better life you’ll being seeing

When things are a challenge
Adversity strikes hard
Call spirit to hold you
Higher standard will you guard

For behavior and thought
Words and actions
Love over hatred
Observe the reactions

Can this be true?
So easy to do
Too many don’t realize it
Understood by too few

It is not easy to follow
Give up some of your choice
Act out when you want to
Hearing self justified voice

I can only attest
To the happiness it brings
To embrace spiritual wisdom
Less concern for material things

The road is uneven
No guru or sage
Goes on without challenge
With life, fully engage

Embrace imperfection
Take hold of all weakness
Strive to be different
Celebrate your uniqueness

As well as the common
Connection and shared concern
Room for variety and excitement
For better life will you yearn

Cultivate real patience
Find comfort in the mundane
In the light and the shadow
Understanding will you gain