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Start Where You Are
world peace, she says, begins at home
with how I treat my brother
no hope to love an unknown face
when disrespecting mother
or father, son, or daughter (those
most close at hand for serving)
a hectic life, no thought for them,
it really is unnerving
to think that I could pass right by
without a care or worry
the ones who may await my smile
and diss them, in my hurry
to bold proclaim compassion’s aim
in favor of a stranger
without a care for closest, I
may stumbled into danger
misplacing those God sent me, clear,
for care and understanding
to capture ‘feel-good’ fantasy
(quite often less demanding)
such high ideals to labor for
my own backyard neglected
are strangers easier to love
(as some have long suspected)?
has proven, true, a messy view
of home-fires, clearly smoldered?
perhaps I’d burn a better lot
with focus rightly shouldered?
all this to say, I’ve thought today
in full reflection knowing
world-peace, she says, within our grasp
if family I be showing
example of the humblest love
then, by His will, renewing
each branch to world in need of love
right-ordered, in the doing
world peace, she says, begins at home
with how I treat my brother
no hope to love an unknown face
when disrespecting mother
or father, son, or daughter (those
most close at hand for serving)
a hectic life, no thought for them,
it really is unnerving
to think that I could pass right by
without a care or worry
the ones who may await my smile
and diss them, in my hurry
to bold proclaim compassion’s aim
in favor of a stranger
without a care for closest, I
may stumbled into danger
misplacing those God sent me, clear,
for care and understanding
to capture ‘feel-good’ fantasy
(quite often less demanding)
such high ideals to labor for
my own backyard neglected
are strangers easier to love
(as some have long suspected)?
has proven, true, a messy view
of home-fires, clearly smoldered?
perhaps I’d burn a better lot
with focus rightly shouldered?
all this to say, I’ve thought today
in full reflection knowing
world-peace, she says, within our grasp
if family I be showing
example of the humblest love
then, by His will, renewing
each branch to world in need of love
right-ordered, in the doing
Our son gave us a book for Christmas, "Do Something Beautiful for God - The Essential Teachings of Mother Teresa". It's got daily meditations of her sayings. The quote for Jan. 5th was this:
"Everybody today seems to be in such a terrible rush, anxious for greater developments and greater riches and so on, so that children have very little time for their parents. Parents have very little time for each other, and in the home begins the disruption of peace of the world."
I thought on that awhile. It fits better in some seasons of my life than others, but it makes logical sense to start with yourself, and those closest to you (family) if you want to influence the world for peace. The above poem rose from that reflection. I hope you enjoy it.
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