To Eric For His Birthday

My beautiful man gets sad at times, mad at himself

and tired of being human. I do too.  And sometimes I

think its hard to see it all at the same time...all that we

need to see...all the

ins and outs of us that must change and the

tinges of sin of us that makes us not quite who

we are supposed to be.

So love is really an amazing, thrilling thing that

doesn't get stained by the unredeemed parts of us,

that works hard to get at the important, deep stuff of our

lives and won't let the beloved lay in the mire and mirror rank

reeking things that rot and replay pain.

Fully looking at fear, naming it, will make a man out of you, for

there is no man that doesn't feel it. Something without a name

is allowed to lurk in dark places and leer at the one who 

won't look it in the eye…that’s what courage is, looking a thing in the eye.

So smile, my beautiful man, and know that I feel honored to

lay in your life and sleep deeply next to you at night.

Smile because you are not alone, my light joins yours to

clean out your dark places and plant beauty and strength and

joy there. Claim your strength, name it and find peace there.