Compassion

A lot has happened in the world the past 2 weeks. A lot of violence. A lot of terror. A lot of hate.

Broken families. Broken homes. Broken friendships. A lot of broken parts of the essence that makes us human.

My heart aches for reason, justice and understanding.

Then I awake saddened with the knowledge that there is none of those for such evil.

Somewhere along the way, we lost it. The 'it' being many things: love, meaning, purpose, integrity, goodness, hope, humility... humanity...

Where do we go from here? What summit are we seeking? What can we do to save ourselves?

I wish I knew. I try to find answers to questions through my poetry, through words, acts of service, through compassion.

Sympathy and empathy just aren't enough anymore. We've done this for far too long and it has immobilized us. It has stricken us with fear. Isolated us from truths because we took a bite and didn't care for how it tasted.

This isn't just a call to action. It's a cry to feel.

I know what it's like to be unfeeling. To lay waste to emotions out of fear for how they may present themselves out of me. Maybe we just need a little thing called courage. To embolden our children, our friends and family, to stand up against fears, facing evil and its consequences with persistence and strength.

No one person starts on a bad path. We are lead there.

But I urge you to remain selfless for a moment.

Reflect on the answers you seek with the questions you haven't yet asked.

Feel those tough emotions, both foreign and familiar.

Be a human.

A person of good.

Show, give and feel compassion for others.

Give them and yourself the grace we all need from time to time.

Because what we give, always comes back.

So give things that matter, that bolster goodness and love.

Then watch the world turn the way it was intended.

Change starts with you. With me. With us.

'How' we change is only determined by 'Why' we change.

And I think it's obvious why, don't you?