love can

We will not be turned around

or interrupted by intimidation,

because we know our inaction and inertia

will be the inheritance of the next generation.

Our blunders become their burdens.

But one thing is certain,

If we merge mercy with might,

and might with right,

then love becomes our legacy,

and change our children's birthright.

                     Excerpt from “The Hill We Climb” by Amanda Gorman

________________________________________

 

the blunders of the fathers

the blunders of the mothers

the blunders of the Senators

the blunders of the Representatives

the blunders of the Priests, Prophets, and Pastors

 

they are not powerless

the mistakes we make through our action

or our inaction

are not without consequence

 

that is just the way this world works

the earth carries the scars of our carelessness

the air too

 

our bodies carry the excesses of our youth

when perhaps we played too hard

drank too heavily

and sought to expand our minds through drugs

 

we carry too the wounds of heart and soul

the damage of careless or casual love

the mutilations caused by fear and hate and greed

 

we try to avoid our pain

we blame others for it

we cast it into the dark depths of our souls

 

but it lies there, waiting

 

and our pain, which has made itself at home

oozes out,

 

and is visited on others

our lovers, our children

our friends and neighbors

 

and sometimes bursting forth

and exploding like bursts of gunfire in a grocery store

it does irreparable damage to others

 

it is hard to live with our pain

difficult to welcome it, and embrace it

and comfort it

and resolve it

 

and it sometimes feels as if it is too late

as if we cannot turn our lives around

our families around

our country

our world

around

 

but it is never too late

think resurrection dear one’s

think of the stark pain of the cross

and the cold finality of the tomb

 

and know what Love can do with pain

know what that Power which gives us form and life

can do with chaos and void

 

if Love can raise the sun each morning

and form the mountains

and feed the earth with water

and bring to life the animals, and birds, and fish

and you

and I

 

then Love can transform hate into love

and greed into generosity

and violence into peace

 

and Love can turn us around

Love can heal, and restore, and reconcile

 

Love can become The Way

 

our blunders are not powerless

but neither is Love

 

So let us not grow weary in doing good

Let us not grow weary of loving

for we will reap at harvest time,

if we do not give up  (Galatians 6:9)