As I lie in my bed and think to myself the world is as it should be. My family and friends are home and safe in their beds. A blanket of darkness has fallen around me and drawn me to an early slumber. As I drift off to sleep with my eyes too heavy to open a dream comes upon me in the peaceful black night. He stands all alone in a strange and dark place, and paces with long strides that are fierce and profound. A gun is strapped to his back and he stands at the ready when an unknown sound crashes in the distance. Who is this man that protects the night that I know so well and feel comfort in? He never stops and never falters; he is not allowed to miss a beat. He will work all through the night and no one knows his name, but he has a family back home that misses and loves him and prays he comes home. He has enemies all around that could come from any angle, he does not fear this, but instead that he will miss throwing the ball with his five year old son. He knows his job better than most, he has no fear of what the darkness may hold in this foreign land, but he fears that he will not make it home to holds his sweet baby girl. He works all through the night while he wife stays up worrying that he may not come home. He has no name, but he protects the night that surrounds me now. The lack of honor he receives from his country and those who think his job is worthless makes me wonder now why he does it. He takes a stand and gives up his life, but you don't know his name. The world is as it should be because while you sleep in your warm and loving bed an American Soldier is risking his life to keep yours safe. As I wake in the morning I say a prayer and thank the nameless man that protects the night, and in the morning the world is as it should be.

Darkness

The darkness lingers all around her, hiding her in the shadows of her sorrow that masks the desire to be free from humanity. Humanity that holds her back from being a woman that she longs to be. She holds her breath and finds that the air she once longed to fill her lungs she no longer needs. Her needs have changed as she has grown into a person that is no longer seen by the world as a princess that is timid but a lioness that will show her strength when it is needed. Afraid the darkness will take her away from all she knows she tries to hide in lightness as it grows. Better yet she runs in fear of nothing left to hold her here. A fear that never really was, that takes her darkness from her now. Darkness lingers all around hiding in the shadows of the dead. The dead that tell her how to feel and how live, each moment passing in the smell of decay that clings to each passing day. In the light of darkness evil dwells and angels flow to save the wicked as they cling to crucifixes. Humanity is changing and darkness falls on the weak. She stands to fight as the lioness against the darkness that has taken over this corner of the world.
As she reaches this land unknown she hears the bellows of the beasts who roam. She shakes in fear and feels a tear roll down her cheek. The air is thick and hard to breathe; she gropes in the black surroundings try to be strong. The bellows of the beasts move closer in hunger as they sense her fear. She must always be strong. If they know too much they will take her down without a fight and the fight is not theirs to win, she takes in a sharp breathe that burns in her lungs. How much longer until they approach her? The darkness is caving with every step closer the evil is around her and is trying to hold her down. The angles have left her to fight in this battle, they cannot help her. She reaches for someone that seems too far away from her at this moment. Will He come through in this her darkest hour? The darkness is closer and the breath of the beast is on her as she speaks out His name. Father? Can you hear me in this place? Can you save me from my pain? I have no other way out of here, I am lost in the darkness that is my shame, I am lost in the darkness that is my full sin. I have turned and walked away from you this time, so I ask you now, can you hear me in this place? Can you save me from my pain? I have forsaken you and I am full of shame. I have been lost and hurting for so long, I am fighting a battle that needs to be won. I cannot do this without you! Father, I am here and I am asking for you now, you are the only one who can save me now. The evil is closing in and I can feel the breath of the beast that longs to take me, I want to be set free from the HELL I have been put in. Father I plead with you now, I am sorry for the hurt I have caused, please forgive your broken child that has wondered from you. I will stay close this time around for I am fearful of what may come. I know that you have kept me safe and warm. I am your child and I am afraid to be without. Father, is that you?
My sweet child it is I. I have never left your side. I have been here all along. It is you who did not hear me when I called your name. Child I can hear even in the darkest place and I will heal your pain. Why sweet child of mine are you filled with so much shame? Have I not taken your sins when you ask me to bury them beneath the ocean floor? Have I not carried you when you had no strength at all? My sweet child I have walked 5,000 miles to bring you home and even then when you did stray I carried you home all the way. I have never left you and have never turned you away. I love you more than any human words can say.