February 24, 2022

01

We go without weapons into
the deed that must be done
in each situation as it arises.
As vulnerable as a baby in a manger,
or a man on a cross.

Looking only for what we need
to do what needs us to do it.

That's all Aristotle had,
and Jesus,
and Gandhi,
and Martin Luther King, Jr.,
and Medgar Evers,
and Malcolm X...

The list is long of people
who gave themselves to the work
that was theirs to do
without thought of merit or gain,
without caring what their chances were,
saying yes to what needed them to do it,
never minding the outcome,
just doing the work,
and being glad to do it.

The work always needs doing.
Those who make it necessary are many.
Those who do it are few.
All it takes is everything.
All the time.

Of course, there is a catch.

You can't do it without having to.
You can't be talked into it.

You can't be talked out of it.

It's just there and you know it,
or know it not.

Just as the wand chooses the wizard,
so the work chooses the worker.

Each worker to their own work.
We are born for what we do.
And live to know what we know
and do what is ours to do,
with all our heart, and mind
and soul and strength.
Just like it ought to be,
without caring what our chances are.

–0–

02

Do what needs to be done
without agenda or opinion.
Without waiting to want to
or feel like it.
Live to let it be automatic,
spontaneous,
in response to the situation
as it arises.

See it. Do it.
What needs to be done.

Time will tell whether
you were right or wrong.

Learning to accurately access
what needs to be done
develops with time.

Experience anticipates action.
Reads the situation and knows
what's what and what's coming.
And acts accordingly
in light of what is needed
and is likely to be needed.

What we want is irelevent
to the situation as it arises
and has arisen,
to the task at hand.

Read the moment 
and respond to it as it is,
regardless of what you want,
or what you hope to get
from doing something other
than what needs to be done.
Doing whatever it takes to get something
hinges on whether the something
is what we want or what is needed/necessary.

Learning the difference between
want and need
is a significant step
on the way to responsible living.

May we all live knowing what's what
and what needs to be done about it,
moment-to-moment,
situation-by-situation,
day-by-day!

–0–

03

Do it like Chauncey Gardner (Being There)
would do it!

Do it like Tevya (Fiddler on the Roof)
would do it!

Do it like Jesus would do it!

Do it like YOU would do it!

Live from your heart!

Be true to yourself in each situation as it arises!

Live in ways that harmonize Yin and Yang,
making the peace,
finding the balance,
equalizing opposites,
squaring contradictions,
integrating polarities,
easing the tension,
and smoothing the path
through all circumstances, 
conditions,
and contexts
all along the way!

Bearing the pain,
doing the work,
anyway, nevertheless, even so,
as though it matters--
as though there is nothing better to do.
Because it does matter.
Because there is nothing better to do.

Moment-by-moment,
situation-by-situation,
day-by-day,
all our life long!

–0–