Tuesday, January 10, 2012

The Man In The Mirror


Yesterday I was having a session with one of my clients, a bank robber on parole who has been in and out of the prison system since he was in his teens. He's been recently released after spending ten years in the federal prison system.  He spoke to me of the self he was, and the self he has become.  Today, he says, he focuses on the important things in life....rebuilding the relationship with his son and helping others.  "Today, when I look in the mirror, I like what I see."  And then he asked if I knew the following poem, 'The Man in the Mirror.'

If you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day
Then go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say

For it isn't a man's father, mother or wife
Whose judgement upon him must pass
The fellow whose verdict counts most in his life
Is the man staring back from the glass

He's the fellow to please, never mind the rest
For he's with you clear up to the end
And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the man in the glass is your friend

You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you've cheated the man in the glass

-- A convict...found on the walls of his cell--

Each of us looks into a mirror at least several times each day.  Who looks back at you?

Wishing you all a day of peace and love. 


9 comments:

  1. What a marvelous question...

    "The night was clear and frosty,
    all ebony of shadow
    and silver of snowy slope;
    big stars were shining over the silent fields."

    ~Lucy Maud Montgomery

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi dear friend....I've finally crawled out from under my rock....so to speak...(O:. I love this poem....what a perfect post for my world today.

    xo

    Jo

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yes, we need to be true and honest with ourselves first of all. Great thoughts and poem.

    ReplyDelete
  4. beautiful poem and powerful words...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Deep thoughts today, some we all need to see now and then. Hope he only goes upward now...

    ReplyDelete
  6. My goodness how profound of this man. And I take my hat off to you working with criminals. It must be scary sometimes, but awfully rewarding other times - especially times like this.

    I am happy this man is healing and sounds like he's looking forward to a new future - not backwards.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Whoa!
    Words of wisdom.
    Food for thought!
    (((hugs)))Pat

    ReplyDelete
  8. ~mary ...what a moment you and this man had...very wise words you have shared and left us with to ponder...much love light and blessings~

    ReplyDelete