The Children of War

The Children of War

Accepting That there are Other Ways of Experiencing and Seeing Life

Two quotes from Wendell Berry the poet, farmer, author, and protestor that resonate for me:

 War, he suggests, begins in a failure of acceptance. He writes of exchanging friendly talk with Trump voters at Port Royal’s farm-supply store, a kind of tolerance that is necessary in a small town: “If two neighbors know that they may seriously disagree, but that either of them, given even a small change of circumstances, may desperately need the other, should they not keep between them a sort of pre-paid forgiveness? They ought to keep it ready to hand, like a fire extinguisher.” Without this, we risk conflagration.

“A properly educated conservative, who has neither approved of abortion nor supported a tax or a regulation, can destroy a mountain or poison a river and sleep like a baby,” he writes. “A well-instructed liberal, who has behaved with the prescribed delicacy toward women and people of color, can consent to the plunder of the land and people of rural America and sleep like a conservative.”    

Reflection by Katie Rose

I used to believe in my mind;

respected it

credited it with accuracy and trustworthiness.

but only for a while —

until i saw its limitations:

criticism and discouragement,

fears and pessimism rooted in primal survival.

it’s scope such a tiny distorted projection,

oblivious of the infinite and eternal ocean

we all swim in.

I saw with utmost clarity

my mind was not my friend!

Not talking here about intellectual data, even

daily navigation through life;

I am speaking of what makes us who and what we are:

our heart. Self worth, our spirit and soul, our dreams, aspirations and all we love.

Did ego mind ever recognize, honor, work constructively with any of those aspects of being?

just what was this noisy, negative thing in my head

anyway?

I had read from an enlightened One

that the mind was a good servant, but a terrible (even dangerous) master. the heart was meant to lead, make the important life decisions.

I had placed mind on the throne.

I began to meditate,

seeking to quiet the unruly monkey mind.

on the way, I discovered higher pathways therein:

a secret chamber,

hidden tunnels to a mystical interior land

of Merlin and stars

saints and sacret teachings

wild Wise Women set free to be.

much to explore in this place of beauty, love, and mystery.

Over time,

the rigid structures and sturdy file cabinets of mind

were demolished,

swept clean.

windows were flung open

birdsong and sunlight welcomed in

a refreshing breeze of renewal wafting

through the dark

that had been.

celestial music in one corner

flowers and unicorns in another

arm in arm sweethearts

in drunken bliss,

spiritual education at its finest

unconditional love Grace-filled kiss

mind and I have traveled together thru many challenging days

happily we have reached a place

where we are friends.

most days…