Take a moment

These are times of change and emotion

Times that offer opportunity

Opportunity to shed false beliefs

Opportunity to learn from past mistakes

An opportunity to love and respect life

 

We have created a false world of comforts which pasteurize life

Where is the interest, the passion and the beauty

If we’ve eliminated the changes in our daily lives

We get up, fix breakfast, then go to work

Come home to fix dinner, go to bed and sleep incessantly

Then repeat ad nauseum

What purpose does that hold for living

 

How can we respect and love life,

all living things and the rest of our Community

when we barely pay any attention to it

Our lifestyle has us so absorbed in the ME

When we step out from ME

And embrace others with politeness and kindness

When we are considerate of their needs,

We tend to build bridges

Not burn them or erect walls of isolation

 

Climb a tree and sit for an hour

As the wind gently eases your perch to sway

Close your eyes and listen

What voices do you hear

What are they saying

What does your nose

Tell you about the world wrapping your perch

Open your eyes

Are you more perceptive now

After fine tuning other senses

 

When we engage our tools

We tend to become part of the picture

The whole picture and not just an oblivious piece

 

Sit in the shade of an old juniper

And ask questions of another

And listen

Most of all, listen

For that shows care, compassion and respect

 

I look at the widespread bigotry in our world

There is a strong tendency to look down our long noses

And project a sense of superiority

Control with the false comfort of power

Why, we should ask

Why do we think we are superior to others

Why do we think our lives

Have more meaning than theirs

 

We exude this supreme being attitude

Over all of life

This lack of respect for living things

Shows up in so many ways

Tearing down ecosystems to build human housing

Whose home was removed to do this

An animal is killed on the highway

Do people stop to move it off the road

Out of respect for a life crushed by steel

Or do they swerve to avoid the obstruction

Or pummel it into the asphalt

 

Then there is the ongoing story of racism

Usually, white males with batons, guns and anger

Superiority by being a thug

Through bullying over people and life

What happened to compassion for others in need

What happened to “Love thy neighbor”

 

When we reach deep

For the decency that resides within

The warmth of goodness

Gives a glow to revel in

To bask in joy

 

We can grow in so many ways

When we look upon life with love and respect

When we hate and belittle

We are stomping on our own integrity

We truly are saying of ourselves

It is I who am worthless

When you twist the truth

Or just down right lie

You have left the path of wisdom

You have pulled off into the weeds

And lost the vision

 

Let us rejoice in beauty, in each other and the life around us

Let us embrace the wonder of the natural world

Let us appreciate and respect what others bring to our realm

Let us be worthy of being alive