Goodness and the Gift of Years

I'm reading the autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi,
His search for truth for all to see.
His journey was one of self denial,
Which put his family through terrible trials.
I ask myself if these are the reasons
Many religious leaders have no daughters or sons.
Is it fair for martyrs to endanger those
Who, in their families, seek repose?

Perhaps the reason we have been granted long lives
Is to have several years to, for others, strive.
Once we finish bringing up children of our own,
Should we bring more children home?
Or should we serve those who have lost their way,
When there's no danger they'll lead our children astray?
Whatever we do for those in need is God's work,
Which, as members of the human family, we must not shirk.

Defining Despotism

There are those that request that I not say
What is written on my heart on any given day.
But respectfully speaking out is a right I'll defend
And it is on what I believe our sanity depends.
We cannot create justice or right ancestral wrongs
Until we put past prejudices where they belong.
The ability to choose, above power, compassion
Is what makes the lowly animal into a human.
The fear of hell's punishment has created many gains,
We can hope that as fear is calmed, compassion will remain.

The struggle against despotism is won one people at a time;
It wasn't long ago, abuse in our country was declared crime.
Despots declared that their god is like a man,
Because this helped them justify their own plans.
Any voice who declared rule by force wrong
Was branded as heretic and damned by their throngs.
Control by fear and accompanying oppression,
Which included from, their heaven, our rejection.
Fear and respect were taught as the same;
The most powerful would always, victory claim.

It has been a difficult and painful transition
In redefining the roles of women and men.
There are those of us who stay home by choice,
But we and our mates finally have equal voice.
We are no longer willing to be slave and master,
Although there's still debris from the disaster.
It is a horrible shame that those who suffer the most
Are the vulnerable about whose loving care we boast.
Until we put our comforts on the line, to justice defend,
The angry battles in our turf wars will never end.

Perfection and Rejection

The burden of unforgivenness still hangs on my heart
From all the relationships from which I felt I had to part.
It is not a matter of who is wrong and who is right;
It's knowing we're forever banished from each others sight.

Someone once told me that it's easy to be perfect;
If we do nothing, there's nothing to which God will object.
But is this the proper way of being fully human,
Avoiding interaction with our fellow women and men?

Another thing this person said to me rather often
Is that our batting average is what's important to a friend.
But I was taught that all wrongs should be addressed;
We are each responsible for cleaning up our own mess.

I think the people who give life all they've got
Seem to step on the toes of others a lot.
Do they not notice the pain they leave in their wakes,
Or do they trust their good will balance their mistakes?

I'm never sure which approach to this life is best,
Although I have put each one to many tests.
I've lost family and friends in my attempts
To make peace, and hopefully mend our fence.

Because others don't want to get involved,
Many serious disagreements are never resolved.
It would be so nice to have somewhere other than courts
To which those with grievances to address could resort.

I thought that our churches would be my best bet,
But, this belief, I have come to regret.
The people in churches seem more inclined
To, the rifts in relationships, remain blind.

I have come to a decision with a heavy heart,
To choose a path in which, less pain, I'll impart.
How many people, after all, are meant to forever be
A part of each one of our personal community?

Relationships and Righteousness

Bullying comes from emotions we aren't allowed to express;
In our everyday worlds, there are many things we can't digest.
What purpose does it serve to bring all our frustrations back home,
Leading to the inevitability that we will eventually be left alone?

"Love means never having to say you're sorry" is a bunch of bull,
But this is the kind of thinking in which our world is full.
We must say we're truly sorry to begin again and rebuild trust
But, we've all, to the letter of old laws, been forced to adjust.

Communion with those who care for us should be our common goal;
This is something that, our legalistic religions, from us stole.
If I hurt you and I want to make sincere amends,
This is all the ground on which our relationship should depend.

But the problem seems to continue to be who was wrong and who right.
Why does our society seem to so enjoy a vicious fight?
Those who don't enjoy fighting, turn their heads and walk away;
Are there no balanced, righteous people left on earth to have their say?

Children's Church

Why do we want to believe that the enlightenment of one
Is more valid than those when human thought processes were begun?
I haven't seen many churches that teach proper respect;
One person has the answers; the beliefs of others, they reject.
Instead of having grumpy grown-ups allowed to set the mood,
I'd like to hear the little children sing out their gratitude.
The children would also give us lectures on what constitutes fair play,
Then they would gladly tell us when we are not walking in the right way.
But instead of allowing our children to call us out on our lies,
We scold our children until, fairness and truth, they despise.
You can't learn to have faith by studying the rules of what's right.
Is it that we are all afraid of our own, and each other's, light?
Why do we hand over to others our powers to perceive?
We are left with deadened souls for which all creation grieves.

No One's Freedom Is Really Free

I would gladly give up any more years,
If I felt I could give them to another.
I may even insist that they only be given
To my grandchild, child, sister, or brother.

In this life on earth, we must make choices,
Many that we really don't want to make.
In a truly moral society,
We'd make many for justice's sake.

We all have a right to our choices,
But our consequences will be born by someone.
By closing our eyes to this reality,
We, from the inevitable, continue to run.

Many march against life's injustices
Because pain of others is easiest to ignore,
Until the world's many inequities
Come knocking at our own doors.

Children are now given the right to sue
Their parents for neglect and abuse,
But without other families to take them in
Their freedoms are of little use.

We create large organizations
And fund government bureaucracies,
Convincing ourselves that these agencies
Will fill all human needs.

We don't insist that people we support
Live by the values of a just society.
We allow them to continue imposing on us
More generations of irresponsibility.

Corporate heads and government leaders
Are sheltered from liability.
Others are left to carry their burdens,
Because no one's freedom is really free.

Is This Proper Parenting?

I'm tired of parents who don't care what their children will be
As long as their children grow up to be "happy."
They seem to set no standards for behavior
As though the desires of the moment are all there are to savor.
Wouldn't we be better off as a society
If each of us helped our children accept responsibility,
Not only for their happiness, but also for a sense of purpose,
Maybe, something like working to make the world more just?

I encouraged my children to find there own way;
I trusted they could hear what The Spirit had to say.
I told them I want them to be good citizens,
Because I believe that is where good values begin,
Citizens of this world and all of creation,
Inviting others to a fairness celebration.
I believe that they, on their own, have come to see
What their greater life purposes are meant to be.