Dueling Spirits Within

This poem reflects the thoughts I battle with when it comes to the threat of Islam. The opposing approaches are prevalent in my novels, to which in my head there seems no end. My main characters all represent one side of the coin or the other, as readers will discover, book by book. But this poem says exactly how I feel; it shows my dueling spirits within:


Dueling Spirits Within                        

Lord help me understand; please help me try to see
A peaceful resolution in this battle within me.

Do I pray for courage to stand against
The evil that crowds at our door?

Or do I pray for patience
And a mission field in which to explore?

Is the secret in holding on to our Bibles
With our guns at the ready?

Or do we stand firm in our faith;
Believe in God's timing, slow and steady?

Do we shout from the mountaintops,
"Their prophet is a fraud!?"

Or do we get down on our knees and pray?
For they're not the only ones who are flawed.

Do we pray for Your mighty angels
To come and cast them asunder?

Do we hold on to hope and wait
For you to cry out in a voice as loud as thunder?

Or should we get to know our enemy?
Should we try to help them see?

Can we point their eyes to You,
Show them Your meaning of victory?

Lord I confess I have struggled
With this dilemma of what to do.

Part of me wants to be protective...
But part of me wants to show them...You.

Lord, you left yourself open
To human hatred, and all our scorn.

We gave you whips and lashes;
We made you wear a crown of thorns.

The misinformed and the evil
Now prepare to come ashore.

Half the nation wants to make them feel welcome;
Welcome with open arms and open wide the door.

I am part of the other half;
I'd rather stay safe from harm.

I want to be the first warn the people
I want to raise the alarm.

Some of them are wolves in sheep's clothing;
Of that there is no doubt.

But does that justify my longing
To just say NO - STAY OUT.

I think I know the answer;
You even tell us how it all ends.

So whether we open ourselves up or not
It is your spirit that will win.

The protector within me says
Taking precaution is where it starts.

But instead perhaps we set our focus -
On their souls; on their hearts.