Open hands

“In a world that lives like a fist

mercy is not more than waking

with your hands open.”

                              Mark Nepo

__________________________

how do I walk through my day?

fists clenched?

angry at what I see,

angry at those who dare affront me

confront me?

Angry at the things that are not fair,

Are not right?  (by my definition of course)

It is so easy to become a tight ball of resentment

So easy to see the world as dangerous and dark

It so easy to put my energy into those people (Trump and crew)

Into those events (school shootings)

Those beliefs and values

That I judge (alas, I did say judge)

As wrong

As ungodly

As not “Jesus” (or Buddha or….)

How much harder it is

To live mercy

To walk through the day

Unencumbered

With mind open

Heart open

Soul open

Hands open

Ready to receive

Ready to give

Ready to hug

Closed hands can receive nothing

And do nothing

(except hit)

Closed hands cannot contain anything but emptiness

Cannot grab hold of what is good

Cannot caress

Cannot comfort

May I, as the sun rises

And as the sun sets

And in every moment in between

Open my hands

Palms up

And wait for what comes