January 12, 2022

01

I write a lot and say very little.
Very little that is different
from what I've been saying 
for a lot of years.
Since 1985,or earlier.

How much did Jesus say
that was different from
what else he said?
Or the Buddha?
Or the Dali Lama?

Chuang Tzu was a contemporary
(Probably/maybe) with Lao Tzu, 
and said, basically,
"Be the old turtle
dragging its tail through the mud
that you are,
and not the movie/rock/political/social star
you aspire to be."

There is not much to be said
that hasn't been said.

"Be who you are
and do what needs you to do it
in each situation as it arises,
without thought of profit or gain."

That is the summation
of everything I have to say.
Everything I say is a variation
of that theme.

If anyone tells you anything 
contrary to that,
walk on by,
and keep walking.

–0–

o2

It is not about getting to heaven
when you die.

It is not about being rich 
and having it made.

It is about doing what needs to be done,
the way you--and only you--can do it,
when it needs to be done,
where it needs to be done,
how it needs to be done,
because it needs to be done,
no matter what,
without thought of profit, gain, or merit.

Sincerely, spontaneously, with integrity
and zeal for,
and dedication to,
the task at hand:
Doing what needs you to do it
here and now
within the terms and conditions,
context and circumstances
of the situation as it arises,
with the gifts/daemon/genius/etc.
of your original nature
in ways appropriate to the time and place
of your living.

Moment-by-moment,
day-by-day.

What do you need to do that?
Find it.
Do it.

–0–

03

All of us who are bustin' it
in the service of what needs
to be done/said
in the time that is upon us
throughout the time left for living
have to take our courage and determination
from each other, 
for they be many,
and not from our successes and achievements,
for they be few.

There are more of us
who see what needs to be done/said
in this moment of our time together
than there have ever been
in the history of the world.

Look at Elizabeth Warren
and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez!
Sarah Kendzior and Andria Chalupa!
Barbara Crane Navarro!
And the men! Don't forget the men!
The list is long!

People are doing what they can imagine doing
with the gifts that are theirs to work with,
working as hard as they can
in fighting against fascism and Big Money,
and fighting for Liberty! Justice! Equality! Truth!
in each situation as it arises
all day long
every day.

And they aren't stopping because
fascism and Big Money have the momentum,
and the leverage,
and the power to tilt the table 
in their favor
to the detriment of all that is right,
and good, and essential
in all times and places forever.

Jesus is on the list.
And the Buddha.
And the Dali Lama.

We pick each other up
with a word of encouragement,
and a smile and a wink,
and step back into the fray.
Every day.
All the way.

It's what we do.

–0–