People are not disturbed by things, but by the
views which they take of things
Epictetus
_____________________________---
there they are
those people
who do not look like us
talk like us
believe like us
there they are
those people who
have ideas that
frankly
scare us to death
there they are (or so we think)
those who would attack our faith
break into our homes
steal our money
corrupt our children
there THEY are
those who threaten us
(and this is just about everyone who is not JUST
like us)
and so
there is only one answer
only one
to grab power
and to use power
for fear drives us
fear controls us
until all we can do is look
through the red haze of hate
and do all we can
to minimize, oppress, marginalize
in fear we go to work
we pass laws to enshrine our vision of right and
wrong
to preserve our religion
our version of the Sacred
in fear we buy guns,
and more guns
and more guns
and carry them everywhere
in fear we refuse to listen
in fear we misrepresent and lie
in fear we kill
in fear we oppress
in fear we horde
fear, fear, fear
it is every where
it is pervasive
it is a constant in our lives
perhaps we are addicted to fear
it is an addiction that kills
it kills children (Sandy Hook)
it kills souls
it kills freedom
but most of all
it kills love
We are told that “perfect love casts out all fear”
God is perfect love (if understood correctly)
Jesus was perfect love, and called for lives of
love
is the sacred present in the haters?
Is god present in the fearful ones?
Yes
that presence is buried
almost lost
down deep inside
under all those layers of fear
but it is there
in them
it is there in me
even when I am afraid
O Sacred One!
may that ember of love
may that seed of presence
burn through
the layers of ideology (idiotology?)
the layers of dogma
may it burn
and grow
until love lives
I am looking for the day oh Beloved
When there are 12 step programs for fear
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