It feels at times as if the world is full of predators
humans eager to devour others
for the sake of their own appetites
seeking, as animals do to
satisfy the pangs of hunger
that comes from an emptiness within
and so they prowl
these predators
sexual predators
economic predators
power predators
they lurk waiting to tear pieces
off of others in order to
patch their souls*
perhaps it is true that at some level
we all are predators
we walking wounded with our tattered souls
we all believe that we can be filled
by consuming
grasping, accumulating, achieving
and yet there is another way
there is the way
where instead of grasping we give
I cannot help but think of Jesus on the cross
assailing hate and oppression
conquering the worst humankind could offer
by offering pieces of himself
lamb of God
paschal lamb
it is not so much that we lay down
and allow the hungry beasts to consume us
for then we have nothing left to give
(note: boundaries and self-care are a good thing and
it is true we have to know when to say “no”)
it is more that we offer pieces of ourselves
our hearts
our hope
our compassion
freely
we give them
knowing that the beloved
will refresh, and recreate us
over and over and over again
this only works if it is truly given freely
this only works if it is motivated by love
this only works if we are connected to the One
who resurrects us, over and over again
but I believe it does work, this path to wholeness
I believe that the one who feeds us with body and blood
who fills us with spirit
has shown us
the way
_____________________________________________
*His was a selfish love
patching
his soul
with all
of her pieces
Atticus
The Truth About Magic p. 164
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