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.
The sad truth is that we are not the masters of our fate or the captains of our souls. In fact, we cannot even be masters of our own bodies. Anyone who has suffered even a mini heart attack knows that we can't will our hearts to beat or cause our blood to circulate.
No matter how healthy or fit you try to be, ultimately you are not in control. The reality of this hit me this morning when I got the devastating news that one of my favorite people, my favorite boss ever, has been battling cancer for over a year. Mind you this is the most active and fit man you will ever meet. When we worked together we would run around the college track together during lunch. This man would run 6 miles every day - and that's when he wasn't training for a marathon. He ate healthy. He did everything he could to meet his goal to live until 125. But, cancer shows no favoritism.
Thankfully my boss is doing well and has been cancer free for a year now. I don't know the details of his diagnosis but one thing I do know - Christ is the master of our fate and the Captain of our soul.
A Christian woman once read Henley's "Invictus" too and wrote her version:
My Captain
Dorothea Day
Out of the night 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 nor cry aloud.
Under that rule which men call chance
My head with joy is humbly bowed.
Beyond this place of sin and tears
That life with Him! And His the aid,
Despite the menace of the years,
Keeps, and shall keep me, unafraid.
I have no fear, though strait the gate,
He cleared from punishment the scroll.
Christ is the Master of my fate,
Christ is the Captain of my soul.
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
The sad truth is that we are not the masters of our fate or the captains of our souls. In fact, we cannot even be masters of our own bodies. Anyone who has suffered even a mini heart attack knows that we can't will our hearts to beat or cause our blood to circulate.No matter how healthy or fit you try to be, ultimately you are not in control. The reality of this hit me this morning when I got the devastating news that one of my favorite people, my favorite boss ever, has been battling cancer for over a year. Mind you this is the most active and fit man you will ever meet. When we worked together we would run around the college track together during lunch. This man would run 6 miles every day - and that's when he wasn't training for a marathon. He ate healthy. He did everything he could to meet his goal to live until 125. But, cancer shows no favoritism.
Thankfully my boss is doing well and has been cancer free for a year now. I don't know the details of his diagnosis but one thing I do know - Christ is the master of our fate and the Captain of our soul.
A Christian woman once read Henley's "Invictus" too and wrote her version:
My Captain
Dorothea Day
Out of the night 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 nor cry aloud.
Under that rule which men call chance
My head with joy is humbly bowed.
Beyond this place of sin and tears
That life with Him! And His the aid,
Despite the menace of the years,
Keeps, and shall keep me, unafraid.
I have no fear, though strait the gate,
He cleared from punishment the scroll.
Christ is the Master of my fate,
Christ is the Captain of my soul.
LOVE this!!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post Inna! I listen to Chuck sometimes in the morning too! This made me think of Olive. Her boss just found out he has cancer too; a health conscious man with a little boy still to live for. Keep him in your prayers. Glad to have you writing :))
ReplyDeleteRoxy, glad you enjoyed the post! Just out of curiosity, how did you find out about my blog?
ReplyDeleteThanks Natalie! I just realized I have so much to say and share that I might as well get it all out! Glad to have you reading! I'll be praying for Olive's boss... It's a cruel world we live in.
ReplyDeleteSay what?! My favorite writer ever is blogging again? YAY!
ReplyDeleteI love this post. It is true... CHRIST is the master of our souls, of our moments, of our days. It's beautiful to rest in the assurance that He holds everything together and works all things for good for those who love Him, for those who trust Him... His Word confirms this to me daily.