The Marionette. I am as a marionette. Lifeless, motionless and willing or not, able to live only in the hands and at the will of the master puppeteer. Pull one string my hand moves. Pull another my leg. Yet another my heart breaks. Pull them all at once, I'm torn apart. I've come a long way down a lonely, painful road. Searching for truth, finding only lies. Finding pain where pleasure should be, emptiness, not fulfillment. Betrayed in love and trust by a friendly smile, a pat on the head and a knife in the heart.Only now, this late in life , have I begun to discover the true deception behind a clever disguise, wearing a mask so brilliantly designed that my entire life I was fooled by lies. It is so unbelievable it has to be true, yet so obviously true it is unbelievable. I've seen the reality now. I know His plan for me. The road stretches on before me, what lies ahead unknown. I must complete the journey though, my destiny awaits me at the end. I will not travel alone I think. Surely my faithful companions, Pain, Loneliness and Deception will be most delighted to accompany me all the way. I will be like Dorothy on a bizarre, twisting yellow brick road, seeking God, finding Hell at every curve. I will still be the marionette, knowing now that I'm the unwitting prize in a competition between two Puppeteers, each vieing to be Supreme Master. Each pulling frantically at my strings trying to gain possession of my soul even at the cost of my spirit. One always watching intently for signs of weakness so I may be pulled his direction more easily. For the Puppetmasters, winning the contest has become more important than the prize. A soul devoid of spirit is a valueless prize indeed.

for my self, I will remain strong in my resolve that good is right and that resolve will feed my spirit strength. The struggle between the Puppetmasters will wear on as I travel on my way. One by one my strings will begin to fray and break though, slowly taking away their manipulation of me. Knowing this, my spirit soars. Knowing that one day the final string too, will break and I will fall, lifeless, motionless and finally complete in soul and spirit. I will finally know if good will prevail. I will finally Know if God is good. I will finally know the whole truth and the truth shall set me free. For now let the game go on. I know how to win. I will stay on the good road and follow the right path and secure peace and happiness for eternity no matter what the Puppetmasters have in store for me in this short part of it. As must we all do this. Remember, bring help, not harm to others on this journey. Offer what you can to anyone in need even if they do not ask. Even if all you can give is a kind word or a moment to listen. Just knowing someone cares, even a stranger, might give a glimmer of hope to a desperate soul who needs that gesture to hold onto life another day or week or a lifetime. There may be no rewards in this life except feeling good about who and what we are. The true reward is waiting to fulfill our spirits forever. CARE FOR EACH OTHER. THE SOUL YOU SAVE COULD BE YOUR OWN.

- David Mee