Lose Yourself

Like a barren tree

stripped of all beauty,

The autumn leaves

of my identity

falling one by one,

floating slowly to the ground.

No longer anchored

by impressions I make.

I cry out to my Creator,

How could you?

Why do you?

The still, cold silence.

I see that I am losing

Who I thought I was,

Who I wanted to be,

Who I wanted others to like.

There is now nothing left

to clothe me,

to brag of,

to hide behind,

to have confidence in.

Proud of my autumn leaves,

their majesty, show of color and outward beauty,

masquerading who I really am underneath,

A false security of appearances.

Now forced to look at my bareness,

Stripped, naked, ugly, alone, powerless, helpless, hopeless.

I lost myself.

Then …

My Creator clothed me again.

New, fresh, green, tender, soft, subtle, refreshing, alive

A new self emerging with

grace, humility, substance, meaning, strength,

and gratitude for new life.