The man infront of the shadow

I met her, my shadow.
I wondered where she came from.
She told me she has been with me all my life,
So I asked why I only see her now.

She said, “Did you ever acknowledge me or embrace me?
I know you saw me so many times.”
There I was, watching you mask me with smiles,
Fake laughs, and newness in your life.
You ran from me—how could you see me, though we were introduced so many times?
You feared me because I was dark, scary,
Not a color you thought looked good on you.
You hid from me, although I was always you,
And deep down, you knew.”

“Now you realize I am part of you, and you ought to learn me.”
“Don’t you know what you fear is what you need to face?
After all, hasn’t He commanded, ‘Be not afraid, for I am with you’?“
“I am not your enemy, but I am not your friend either.
I am you, and there is treasure in the dark—haven’t you heard?”
“There needs to be darkness for the light to shine, don’t you know?”
“Darkness only sits for the night; light always rises in the morning.”
“So I ask again, why do you fear me?”

I sigh,
“I don’t know… This is all so strange to me.
Maybe I fear being an outcast, or being seen as strange.
Maybe I fear myself more than I fear you.”

“I ran all my life,
Fled from anything unfamiliar , like a child unaware  of the night.
I didn’t hide behind you, or him, or even myself—

I just ran.

But oh, how sweet to finally speak to you,
For now I know:
You desire embrace, but I desire freedom.
I control you—you don’t control me.
I am your master, not your slave.
I have a light that takes away my shadow.

After all, hasn’t He commanded me to be strong,
To trust that He will hold me?

And even when my light dims enough for you to grow,
I will always remember:
Before you was me, and I am—
I was, and I will always be—
The man in-front of the shadow.