Guard the Door

The doorway to our selves
can only open as wide
as we allow.
The tides of life
rise and fall
carrying toward us
things we cannot control.
The doorway lets
the water in
as we allow it.
Sometimes the rush
is too powerful
and pushes through
without our consent.
Storms in our lives
may pollute the water
with pain and sorrow,
these storms are
a part of life's
ecology.
But don't bolt
the door for good
and suffocate,
sun will come
and clean the water.
Joy will rush
on the same current
as the pain.
Just wait,
collect the water
sift it through
your prayers, your hopes
look to see
what lovely things
there are to know
as you guard the door
in helpless hope.