July 13-B, 2022

We live to be 
true to ourselves
and aligned with
what is asked of us
in each situation as it arises.

We bring forth 
what is called for
from the stores
of our original nature
and the innate virtues
that are ours from birth
to meet the needs of the moment,
moment after moment,
over the full course of our life.

This is called
"rising to meet the occasion"
with what we have to offer
in maintaining the equilibrium
of opposites,
contraries
and contradictions
at work in the here/now
of our living.

We bear in our bodies
the tensions of time and place
in working things out
to the best of our ability
and the true good of all concerned.

Negotiation and compromise, Kid.
Negotiation and compromise.

Accommodation and acquiescence, Kid.
Accommodation and acquiescence.

We pull this off by seeing/knowing
what's what
and what is called for,
and being/offering what is needed,
situation by situation
throughout the time left for living.

It is living moment to moment
in light of the needs of the moment,
which certainly include our own needs
in the moment,
taking all things into account
and seeing what can be done
to make things as good as they can be.

The people who take abortion off the table,
and the people who leave
ready availability of all types of guns
on the table,
are not doing what needs to be done
in light of the situation as a whole,
and are making things much worse
for the good of the whole--
by forcing their ideology and idea
of what's best upon situation after situation.

Leaving the rest of us to do what can be done
where nothing can be done
that needs to be done,
and trying to make the best 
of a very bad situation--
in an "Okay, now what?" kind of way.

When we cannot do what needs to be done
because of forces beyond our control,
or even our influence
we are left with grieving
what must be grieved,
mourning what is to be mourned,
and bearing the agony
of sorrow and suffering
without consolation,
wailing when wailing is called for
and shouldering the burdens
of time and place,
doing all that can be done
when nothing can be done
through the anguish of time everlasting.

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