Thirteen years ago, there was a young man I knew. His rebellion knew no bounds, getting involved with many things that would make his mother cringe.

The principles for success were never a focus for him. He went to a few seminars and workshops, but wouldn’t apply what he learned. Sure looked good though.. you know – he could boast to his friends, “I went to go see Neil Anderson last weekend. That seminar was soooo cool!”

His friends would hopefully look at him in amazement and say, “wow.. you’re so smart.” He figured girls would compliment him when he offered his great advice. If it did happen, he would just lean in for a kiss.

He put on a good show, but inside – nothing was really going right for him. Friends were few and far between. He settled for mediocrity most of the time. His negativity grew worse as time went on.. even at one point, he would curse every situation that wasn’t ‘just right’.

No self-confidence or esteem, but evermore self-centered and proud of his loser-life.

School was his least favorite thing to do, so he did just the minimum. He never had good grades – ever. Grade 12 was no different.

Except there was this one writing assignment. It was to write a poem. He had the freedom of any topic, style, and form. He remembered vaguely that there was a type of poem that had ten syllables per line. No more, no less.

So, he started out. Thesaurus on the 486DX computer running Windows 3.1, Microsoft Works, and one of those wicked 4x CD drives playing his favorite music through headphones, he wrote this poem:

———————-

TENACITY IN PERIL

I pondered upon the mountain I’d climbed,

How it stood so tall with me on the top.

Made me feel perfectly significant

To climb a pinnacle of such a scale

After having risen from a valley.

I found at the top of this great palace

The ground sterile, void, arid, and so stark

Of the growth the dale had; lush, abundant.

Why did I see the mountain dead right now?

My sore limbs taxed of all integrity,

For what? My Kilimanjaro, seen void?

Wait. My eyes now see the situation.

Not only highs and lows in land, but life

Can alter from age to age, good to bad.

But it is in the low spots, the valley

Where the fruitful growth is nourished by rain,

Where strength is found through the tribulations.

Remember I now for the next dell trek

To keep my next peak in eyes vigilant.

I must not lose sight of it and have faith;

Valleys have growth where I can be strengthened

In the great journey to my perfection.

———————-

Using Iambic Pentameter, (and not having a clue that’s what it was called), he got 100%.

Last time he got 100% was kindergarden. His poem was published with a collection of other poems that won awards and distinction from across North America.

And he never got 100% again. In fact, he just barely graduated. He went on his way, continuing his downward spiral, living a life of mediocrity and negativity he always had and cursing life progressively more and more.

Where did that poem come from?

Anyway… I was reading this book of poems where it was published and came across it. I immediately remembered the kid.. the lack of integrity he had.. the horrible things he would say.. the attitudes he fostered. Needless to say, I was amazed at the glimmer of genius and strong leadership that was just poking from under the surface.

Maybe whatever happened that fateful day of poem writing was meant to be read by himself 13 years later. Maybe it was written for you to read today. Who knows.

Let me know.



Spirit of Faith, Man of Action