"the Nail" an allegory

A nail, rusted and bent,
Sticking out of an old piece of wood.
This would be a good metaphor for how I/we feel many days.
But you know,
That old rusty nail served a purpose,
and
Still does,
Though it may not be apparent at first.
In the Past,
The nail was straight and strong,
Holding firmly to its goal.
Then in time it became bent;
Crooked with misuse.
Time and corrosive elements took
Their toll.
Then, by some miracle, the nail was
Straightened out enough to become useful
Once more.
Now, it humbly serves to hold
That gate in the fence open for others
Who may have lost their way.
So you see, all is not as it appears;
There is a history beneath what you see.
We all have a history;
It need not determine your destiny
For the rest of your life.
We Live,
We make mistakes,
We get bent out of
Shape,
But the
"Carpenter of Life"
Will find a use for
Us all.

“The Nail”

^by
Jerry E Smith
©12/26/16
And so my friends, this is an allegorical illustration of my life history
When I was young, I was strong and healthy, the bad back and hereditary
Conditions of my spine had yet to manifest; I stood straight.
Straighter at least.
I began to dabble in Drugs and Alcohol. Alcohol reduces your ability
To rationally make decisions, drugs lead you into dealings and
Associations with unsavory people. They also leach minerals
From your bones, and steal your self esteem. Gradually, I
Changed, became both physically and spiritually BENT.
After years of struggle, I began to recover, 1st from drugs
Then alcohol, then finally cigarettes.
Now I am old and bent, physically much weaker, but
I write and share my story so as to hold the door of
Recovery open for others who may either be on
Their way through that door, or do not believe
They can make it.
You CAN make it, and you CAN regain your
Life, although the damage cannot be
Reversed, you can begin again.
Step through that gate, pick
Up the pieces of your life,
And begin again.
Give of yourself,
Share your
Success
^Addendum
©12/26/2018
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