Honor without Glory

I rarely quote from the Bible
Preferring instead to follow my own star
Without meddling from the distant past
Unsure of the source or the meaning
of words used so long ago.

Still, I know there is a time for each of us
And a place
When we will take our final breath
and our hearts will beat one last time.

I want mine to be a moment of serenity
of peace and quiet and certainty
Neither a victory nor a revelation
Just a feeling of comfort
Knowing that I changed very little
Needing no credit for gains
and no serious blame for losses.

I want to possess only a state of mind
Knowing my choices
Sometimes hurt others
but never cut too deep.

That I had more than one friend
And no enemies of my making;
That I died with as much grace
As I could find;
And that my final resting place
Will be with those who
Left this world with nothing
but their honor intact.