Two Faces

I look in the mirror
Two faces look back
One is everything I want to be
The other is everything I despise
I see the man who has surrendered himself to God
His life is devoted to service
Joy radiates in his very countenance
He feels what is in the hearts of others
Compassion overflows into all he does
Lifting the heavy hands is his goal
Easing the burdens of others is his quest
Blessings rain down upon him from heaven
He knows his weaknesses
But puts them into perspective
Realizing that perfection is not for this life
Yet he does all he can
And then trusts the rest to the Lord
The other face I shudder to look at
There is evil in the smiling eyes
Is he really what I have allowed
To become a part of who I am
Day by day he seems to become stronger
I don’t know how to turn him away
He mocks my very efforts to repent
Lies he whispers into my ears
Ears which have become accustomed to his words
Misery is his ultimate doom
Through eternity he is tormented
He knows what could have been
His every flaw is magnified
Examined through an electron microscope
This dichotomy within my soul
Is a battle for dominance
Who will conquer in the end
I pray and hope that it will be the prior