It's hard. It's hard when your effort doesn't translate, and it's mighty tempting to give up in the face of all that. But I don't wanna give up. So I soldier on. Like an idiot hanging on to faith.
I have this hardness about me all the time. So that I won't be hurt. So that, in the face of thorns, all you see are scratches, but not me bleeding. My voice is not my voice. My voice is my mask.
I wish you can see the sweat of my failure and chuckle at seeing my struggle. And spank my butt, and say "Yo babe, you're not alone. We'll do this together. I got ya. I got ya back."