I am a man, a very manly man but life’s circumstances
Are threatening to castrate and turn this ruler, a beggar.
I’ve spent my reserves to resolve this but my best came
Up short and now I am wanting and wondering, knowing
Not what else to do. The trouble I have been trying to tame
Has made a public mess of my prodigious achievements.
How do you hide what precedes and follows you about?

Hope came knocking when I heard the Deliverer was passing
My way. Pride and ego called a conference, warning me not
To dare but how can I hide a very obvious sore that promises
My ruin? How can I pretend the sore sitting cross-legged on my
Nose is not there when I read repulsion in the eyes of passersby?
Tired of battling failure in my hidden and constrained confinement
I decided to eat humility pie; to acknowledge my helplessness
Accept that there is another Man like me who can do what I can’t
And that desperately, I need to leave where I am to seek His help.

As if that’s not demeaning enough, instead of one-on-one
Man-to-man talk, I have to braze a multitude among whom are
Neighbors, colleagues, families and friends: to make myself
Nothing before those who think I am something. Yet, despite
The urge to turn back and run, I deliberately choose to ignore
The upsets of people and processes, to focus on a stake so high:
I went, I knelt, I asked and I walked away rewarded, relieved.
(Inspired by the story of the man and his epileptic son in Matt 17: 14-18.)

Females are more prone to go public about their faith and challenges. Voicing feelings come easier, makes sense and is accommodated (or tolerated)  when it springs from a “she”. It is not that easy for men. They are raised to be strong, stuff emotions, chin-up and man through life. There are those of both genders who find themselves on the opposite sides of the fence. For fear of being demeaned, some choose to remain in stifling and crippling confinements rather than exhale the issue so we can leave it behind and live. We care too much of what others will make of our issues forgetting that everyone has one or more, even if it’s not showing right now.

The issue could be with ourselves, our expectations, our families, career, whatever: issues are not respecter of status. They emerge everywhere they get a chance to and tend to stick around too long that they appear as permanent instead of transient conditions. Yet, every issue comes to pass no matter how long it stays. It’s a matter of faith and attitude, and patience makes a significant difference on the when and how the issues resolve. Life has taught again and again, that every issue has a solution no matter how tough it appears, every issue is temporal no matter how long it lasts. What appears today as impossible will melt into possibilities as we learn to apply faith and trust in the God who is above all issues, who knows the way out of each, and who is not only able but is also equally willing to lead us out to higher grounds.

Whether male or female, it is such a loss when we allow eternal blessings that we desperately need and cannot earn slip through our fingers because we care more for the opinion of a public that does not care much for our dilemmas. For some, it is hard to ask but Scripture says that it is he who seeks that finds, he that asks receives, and to him who knocks the door is opened. I pray that we will learn to look beyond roadblocks and ask God from a sincere heart, the very things we truly need, and to trust in His provisions and timing as best. The power of the most High is available to save, heal, deliver, provide, and perfect all that concerns us. And to him who believes, nothing is impossible because our God is well able!

Blessings
Glory!