I've had this saved for quite some time. Today seems like an appropriate day to share it.
From a radio program with Dr Woodrow Kroll.
"Are you familiar with the poem, "Invictus"? "Invictus" was written by
the 18th century English poet, William Henley. You may not
recognize all of this, but I want to read it all to you. You're going to
recognize a portion of it. Your face will brighten significantly when
you get to the few words in this poem you may recognize.
Listen to this. "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 bloodied but
unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears looms but the horrors
of the shade, and yet the menace of the years finds and shall find me
unafraid. It matters not how straight the gate, how charted with
punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate; I am the captain
of my soul."
The Bible says, "There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the
end thereof is death." By the way, William Henley, who was the
master of his own fate, the captain of his own soul, committed
suicide at the end of his life because the only person that matters
really in life—he didn't know. Now Dr. Kroll, you used the poem "Invictus" in your message. I
understand that someone with a different perspective wrote a
response.
Woodrow Kroll: That's an interesting poem, isn't it, Don? I think it
really tells where most people are today—the captain of their own
ship, the captain of their own soul. Dorothea Day has written a poem
entitled "My Captain," which is kind of the flip side of that. Listen to
this, folks.
"Out of the light that dazzles me, bright as the sun from pole to pole,
I thank the God I know to be for Christ, the Conqueror of my soul.
Since His the sway of circumstance, I would not wince or cry aloud.
Under that rule which men call chance, my head with joy is humbly bowed.
I have no fear, though straight the gate; He cleared from punishment the soul.
Christ is the Master of my fate; Christ is the captain of my soul."
You can have a whole different perspective, folks, on how to live your
life when you recognize that there is a Captain who loves you and a
Captain who will guide you to a safe harbor |
