Know they are weeping…
They weep for all they have provided …and all that we’ve wasted.
It is becoming much more difficult to not be affected by the pain and injustice right here in the U.S. and around this world. Any form of media delivers a daily barrage of acts beyond the norm, acts void of empathy, dignity, humanity and a general sense of lawlessness that seeps in to overcome my thoughts with negativity. Words and images emanating from those who are supposed to be considered community, national and even world leaders. I find myself shrinking my world so that I focus only on what I can directly influence in my small sphere, while I try to will it out of my space. I can pretend my senses are not experiencing those moments, or even try to justify their existence…shamefully, ignorantly.
This daily deluge of a surreal scenarios shaking the foundation of everything we know - and while I am not naive enough to think the world is perfect and that change is inevitable, the way everyday life is changing is definitely challenging. I am a father of wonderful children, a proud grandfather, happily married and I survived a deadly cancer. I work to direct my mind towards the good, the positive, the joy that life offers, the goodness in others that I know exists. I seek strength, wisdom, and courage to find the positives in my community and in the world. The truth? That’s not always possible as it seems to enter my space through osmosis: pain and evil seeps in like a virus, like a stone in my shoe, constantly reminding me that it exists and it won’t be ignored.
I know however that I don’t have to be part of those ills. I try to fight it with positive and make sure my sphere is safe and true. But to be safe, and true, I have to recognize that virus, know it exists and observe it closely as it stains the world. I observe it with empathy, and honesty. I try to see this world as I want it to be and take care of my own space, with the hope it grows over those evil spaces.
Maybe I am naive, but if I choose the alternative and ignore the truth about what is out there, am I complicit? Those moments hit, when I close my eyes to listen to my heart, and I am overcome with the noise and confusion of all conflagrations. I succumb to the truth my eyes report and become frustrated, angry, and sad. When that happens, my mind needs an outlet and one morning late last year, this came forward…as we seek a better world, we must seek change. Justifying lies, hate and creating fear in the name of religion, ideology, self centered motivations is an ancient tradition. Evil and wrongdoing are blurred by the promise of glory. Man’s selfish goals are justified by distorting the truth and staining our gods with religion. They try to confuse us, and drive many to accept the hate. I refuse…
This is a monologue I wrote while observing the Ukrainian / Russian war and then watched the horrors and ensuing destruction between Israel and Palestine in Gaza. Driven by the disbelief that as humans, too many of us have not evolved to believe war and injustice is not a path to peace. Whether it is in the name of security, religion, pride, greed or however the slaughters are justified, the impact of accepting those sins stain more than we know…
Go ahead.
Beat your plow shears into swords. Get your eye for an eye, in fact why not get two for one…
if your heart is so hardened.
Conflate your causes to match a narrative that only dwells on hate and fear as it steeps in your insecurities.
No matter what God you praise, seeking hope, reaching for help, as you kneel or bow your head, asking, begging, wanting their grace, pining for wisdom, courage, piety and maybe something more beyond this world, while surrounded by your folly.
Know your Gods are weeping…
Know they are confused, as they witness that even with all they have graced us with, we have managed to contrive delivery of whatever ends WE seek. Through whatever means WE justify.
They weep as we achieve our own selfish goals.
They weep for the horrors inflicted upon innocents, their children, who suffer and die needlessly.
They weep for those whose blood stained hands maim, torture and kill…in Their name.
They weep for those who turn away and deny reality. They weep for those who praise man’s transgressions in the name of their god. They weep for the lost possibilities of a beautiful world.
They weep for a world filled with resources to satisfy our every need, solve every problem and cure every ill…yet we make decisions based not on the good of ourselves and our neighbors, but what is profitable, advantageous to some, and never for all.
They weep for they provided a world filled with the power to do beautiful, magical good, yet man seeks riches, pride, and glory before goodness.
They weep as their names are emblazoned on glorious cathedrals and temples filled with gold, while their children sleep in the street, hungry and sick.
They weep for all they have provided …and all that we’ve wasted.
Now we weep…
I absolutely understand how you feel, like you, i live in my small sphere, deliberately remaining oblivious and naive to all the horrible things in our surroundings. But at least, it keeps my heart pure, my circle peaceful and my life more relaxed. If that makes me ignorant or uneducated, as some might think, I don't ... there are plenty enough people involved in all the anguish and suffering from it all.