Living in Fear

Defense is frightening

It stems from fear,

Increasing fear as each defense is made

You think it offers safety.

Yet it speaks of fear made real and terror justified

                                Gifts From A Course In Miracles, Vaughan & Walsh

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the barn cat is cornered

not by real danger

but by a puppy curious and happy

it wants to play!

What can  go wrong?

Alas

fear grows, bristling up the cat’s back

from fear comes anger

perhaps hate

(what is THIS THING doing in my barn?)

then sudden violence

swish, slash

ninja cat strikes

peace and joy

interrupted

so too

in Palestine

Iraq

Freguson, Missouri, USA

over and over again

fear evolves to hate

hate evolves to anger

anger evolves to violence

fortified people

hiding behind black masks

behind military gear and megaphones

and guns

rockets too

peace and joy interrupted

so too in our own lives

fear becomes hate becomes anger becomes

personal violence

we wear our own kinds of armor

and wield our own kinds of weapons

there is violence in hateful looks

in bitter words

in rejection and silence

peace and joy interrupted

perfect love

casts our fear!

Come O Sacred One

awaken us to your Presence

give us that peace

that can only come

from the inside

out