Food for Thought

Everything is a lesson

Whether we like it or not.

Everything has a meaning.

Everything’s food for thought:

Unfortunate times, our triumphs,

Days both happy and sad,

People who warm our hearts,

People who drive us mad,

 

Illnesses and wellness,

Incidents that we regret,

Things we’ll remember forever,

And things we would like to forget.

 

Life makes more sense when

We open our eyes and our minds.

It’s like a light bulb going on,

Or like someone opening the blinds.

 

When we see interconnectedness--

When everything’s not about US--

Causes and conditions

Show us there’s always a THUS.

 

BOTH seeing and knowing

Guide us in understanding

The world around us; however,

The truth is also demanding.

 

You wonder: Does all of this knowing

Provide us with much consolation

When we feel so helpless

In effecting a transformation?

 

Some things seem so simple,

And yet they’re complicated.

It turns out the golden rule

Is far too underrated.

 

Too many people can’t see

The forest for the trees.

They claim to offer assurance,

But end up causing unease.

Sometimes the lessons we learn

Are hard to reconcile--

Especially when fanatics’

Tactics are cruel and vile.

 

Blinded by ideologies,

They lack genuine caring;

Their means for achieving their goals

Are violent and overbearing.

 

Is it that they do not see?

Or is it that they do not care?

Lying to themselves prevents them

From becoming truly aware.

 

It’s sad for the many victims

Whose lives are miserably affected

By those ideological thugs

Whose goals are misdirected.

 

It’s how we USE what we’ve learned

To help us make changes--to act--

To help us make smart decisions,

Using our wisdom and tact.

 

Learning from all of life’s lessons,

Combined with introspection

Or getting in touch with ourselves,

Is a step in the right direction.

 

Just always keep in mind

That whether we like it or not,

Everything has a meaning;

Everything’s food for thought.

 

(9-1-14)