Rebirth of Famous Words

Today I found myself feeling beat up.  One of those days where you see all your faults and shortcomings.  Today was full of realizations of how lazy I have become.  How I have stopped pushing myself and let excuses win.  Then the words of William Ernest Henley popped into my head.

"I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul."

With that I banished those destructive thoughts that had brought a cloud cover over me.

But as I kept thinking about this incredible poem I realized that Henley, although his words are inspirational and lift the human spirit to believe in the possibilities of life, got it all wrong.

Now don't think I am criticizing him.  I am not.  I respect his poem and think its amazingly beautiful and stirring.

But I think I got a Holy Spirit Download with a few rewrites to his poem.  After rewriting it, not only did it make my chest swell with pride and possibility; it also made my heart soar knowing that I am not alone in this.  And that someone bigger than it all is truly in charge.

Invictus - Reborn

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
My God I humbly thank thee
For saving my unworthy soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have winced and cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My knee bent to pray with head bowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms the horror of the shade,
Yet with His spirit through the years
I stand and am found unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
HE is the master of my fate:
HE is the captain of my soul.



Here is the origianl poem.  (All credit given to William Ernest Henley for his words, I own none of them and intend no copyright infringement.)

Invictus


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 bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.