The Man I’m Becoming

The Man I’m Becoming
Verse 1
This fragile nerve beneath my skin
Feels what others miss —
A blessing and a burden both
A wound that still exists
I stood in front of my reflection
Didn’t like what I could see
A child with scars he’d never named
Staring back at me
Chorus
I don’t love myself for how far I’ve come
Or battles that I’ve won
I love the man who won’t give up
On who he might become
I am the canvas and the brush
The shadow and the light
I keep on trying to paint a decent man —
And that’s the work of my life
Verse 2
I would not blame what shaped my youth
Or wear it like a crown
I would not stay the wounded boy
Or let that pull me down
So I chose the honest, harder road
Where pride gets set aside
To measure myself by decency —
Where the worst of me can’t hide
Chorus
I don’t love myself for how far I’ve come
Or how well I’ve played the part
I love the man who stands each day
And tells the truth to his own heart
Canvas and brush, shadow and light
Still learning wrong from right
I keep on trying to paint a decent man —
And that’s the work of my life
Bridge
I never set my goals to end
When I lay my head at night
The man I hope to be is still
Just barely out of sight
Some dreams you reach and walk away —
The better ones don’t cease
The work of being decent
Is the one that gives me peace
Final
I’m at peace because the man inside
Keeps choosing what is right
Not loudly. Not for praise
But in the quiet of the night.
He stands before life’s mirror
When no one else can see —
And tells the hard and honest truth
To me
Yesterday is gone
Tomorrow hasn’t come
I still have work to do —
Today
On me