Life Is This Simple

“Life is this simple: we are living in a world that is absolutely transparent and the divine is shining through it all the time.”

                                Thomas Merton

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I think

at times,

that Jesus must have been a little bit crazy

delusional perhaps

or maybe just naïve

he said such strange things

“love your enemies”

“give beggars not only what they ask for, but more!”

“happy are those who mourn”

seriously,

does anyone believe that

but what really challenges

all sense of reality

are statements like

“you ARE the salt of the earth”

“you ARE the light of the world”

come on Jesus!

get real

I’ve been looking around

I’ve even been looking in the mirror

And I have to say

not seeing it

seriously

ok, ok

perhaps, just perhaps

I see the truth in what you say

in the look of love a new mother gives her child

and maybe it is there, in the way someone just “knows”

another person needs a hug

ok

maybe it is reflected,

although slightly mind you,

when instead of judgment, there is love and acceptance

maybe it is there where people take to the streets

to protest injustice

and when a nurse makes that little, extra, effort to ease the suffering of a patient

maybe it is in the listening ear of the counselor

and in the rough hands

of the man who brings that elderly couple some fire wood

maybe Jesus

you are right

we ARE salt, and we ARE light

maybe the divine

shines through us

as clearly, in moments,

as it does through a fine winter day

thank you

for reminding me