Redeeming The Walking Wounded 

by Chelle

They are the walking wounded 
on the streets of the world. 
Bleeding invisibly from their eyes 
and hiding broken hearts behind casual lies. 
And their choices are always the same, 
blame the world for its imperfections 
or blame themselves for their incorrectness. 
Never knowing that salvation lies 
in the innocence of that inner truth 
they once had in their youth. 

And if I were to advise I'd say, 
"Walk away, walk away, just walk away. 
Life begins again with another day 
if you would just lay your burdens down . . . 

Just let it all go."

Like dancers who have lost a step 
and with it all their rhythm, 
They stumble with a graceless inability to fall. 
They try to put a Band-Aid on pain 
by pretending they know how to laugh again. 
But the darkness inside never quite goes away, 
by the blood in their eyes I know it. 
Drugs and alcohol, TV and cyber space 
all beckon to lost souls by offering a place 
where forgetfulness is redemption. 
As though in these things pain has no rule 
and demotes itself to exception. 

And if I were to advise I'd say, 
"Walk away, walk away, just walk away. 
Life begins again with another day 
if you would just lay your burdens down. 
Just let it all go." 

The past is something you can't repair. 
The wisdom you seek is only partly there. 
Today becomes hidden behind memories, 
with opportunities lost as you recant 
again those dealings with the unrepentant. 
Does it matter how they hurt you? 
Does it even matter why? 
Your life is your own now 
and you've paid for it in full. 
If only I could reach you, 
then I could teach you how to say, "Enough." 

And if I were to advise I'd say, 
"Walk away, walk away, just walk away. 
Life begins again with another day 
if you would just lay your burdens down. 
Just let it all go." 

Forgiveness has shown me its mystery. 
It's nothing to do with "them," 
it never gets past just "me." 
They need not repent, 
nor my understanding be sent 
as an emissary to breach the chasms 
that open between us. 
My recollections are neutralized 
and if I remind you of old sins, 
it's just to see if you've realized 
they don't matter any more. 

And if I were to advise I'd say, 
"Walk away, walk away, just walk away. 
Life begins again with another day 
if you would just lay your burdens down. 
Just let it all go." 

Just say, "Enough," 
for in that word there lies redemption. 
You can stop your pain so easily 
if you would only see its purpose in God's plan 
to make you more human. 
It was never meant to punish you don't you know? 
But to show you the consequences of your carelessness 
And the resilience of joy. 
As we make our jokes 
and find the humor and compassion built into pain. 
We are supposed to learn to heal our wounds, 
not open them again. 

And if I were to advise I'd say, 
"Walk away, walk away, just walk away. 
Life begins again with another day 
if you would just lay your burdens down. 
Just let it all go."