What To Do?


What To Do?

What am I to do?
This is one of the most important elections in our time.
Is all I am to do is vote
Or is there more being asked of me?

What am I to do?
Gun violence continues.
Another shooting this week – 5 died.
Is all I am to do is hold them in my prayers?

What am I to do?
In my study of racism
I see that racism is not just between people.
It is deeply rooted in our society
In how banks and schools, judges and businesses have and are treating blacks.
In the “talk” Black parents give their teenage kids.
Is all I am to do is learn and be aware?

What am I to do?
Global warming seems to big for me.
Yet the Earth cries out in pain
For the suffering of Life on her and in her.
Is all I am to do is hold that pain?

What am I to do?
The rich get richer and the poor struggle at 2-3 jobs.
The middle class is shrinking.
My wife and I are in the top 1% of the world in income
Which means we make more than $32,400 per year.
Is all I am to do is give to worthy charities?

What am I to do?
War continues.
When will there be a time when no U.S. soldier is in combat?
Soldiers come home with deep wounds
Physical. Mental. Spiritual.
How are we to care for all the wounds?
Is I am to do is sit and read and listen?

What am I to do?
Many churches in my denomination struggle.
Fewer people are attending worship
Those who attend are getting older
And not so many are giving up on church.
The Nones (not religiously affiliated) are at 40% for those under 30.
Is all I am to do is grief and wish and wonder?

What am I to do?
I am exploring my options.
Do what I have been doing – but that doesn’t seem enough
Read more? Pray more? Discuss more?
Yes, but is that all?
What is being asked of me?
What is being asked of us?

To be present?
Yes, there is power in presence.
To be grateful?
Yes, there is power in gratitude.
To show up every day.
Yes, there is power in persistence.
But is this enough?

There is something in me
That wants to scream.
That wants to say things as they are, is not acceptable.
That wants to rage
That wants to love all deeply
That wants to proclaim, “Come on. Look. See. Act.”

I have learned from an early age
To a good boy/man/person
To work patiently for results
I am thinking the time may have come
 For fire, fierceness, and wild energy
That is unpredictable and bent toward justice.

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