The Things That Make the Story Mine

written 3/11/99 when it occurred to me that, at 42, my life was neatly divided in two halves, one lived as a Christian and one not. My friend and gifted author, Ken Gire, suggested the whole 'story' idea for looking at our lives.

I've been working on a 42 year story
I've been starring in a role that's unrehearsed
Though some scenes have been sweet, others have been gory
but I'm wiser now than at the very first

Between my "once upon a time" and my "happily ever after"
No stunt man steps on stage to take my falls
No one else can cry my tears or do my laughter
The part gets played by me or not at all

And I wish sometimes
That I could rewrite some chapters
Some paragraphs, some passages, some lines,
But it's those very parts that I would change, those scenes that I'd refine
Those things that I'd remove
Are the things that make the story
Mine

And with every day, I watch the plot unfolding
Though I'm well aware just how the story ends
The denouement is beautiful and golden
Though I'm not sure how it happens and I surely don't know when

And I'm sitting here perhaps at intermission
Reflecting on the scenes I've still to do
I'm taking time to do the rough addition
And I'm turning 21 at 42

When my story ends be sure to read the credits
Of those who turned my stumbles into dance
Of those who made the necessary edits
To guarantee the story was romance

And I wish sometimes
That I could rewrite some chapters
Some paragraphs, some passages, some lines,
But it's those very parts that I would change, those scenes that I'd refine
Those things that I'd remove
Are the things that make the story
Mine