September 09, 2023 – A

We cannot care what our chances are.
We have to live as though
we are going to live forever
with no problems we cannot manage
and step into the moment,
offering what is called for
with the gifts that are ours to share
and let that be that,
moment after moment.

We rejuvenate ourselves
with regular returns
to emptiness/stillness/silence
where we reflect/recollect/realize
who we are and what is ours to do
anyway, nevertheless, even so,
as the human covenant with nature--
we bring hope,
kindness,
compassion,
love,
joy,
tenderness,
affection,
and all the high values
humanity has to offer and to serve 
to life in a heartless world
where life eats life
and the Law of the Fishes prevails
(The big fish eat the little fish
and the little fish swim through the nets
that haul the big fish to the cannery).

Our part is to balance the scales of nature
with caring, mercy, peace, benevolence, 
grace and charity--
offsetting ruthlessness, hatred, anger and greed
at every opportunity,
because that is who we are
and that is what we do.

And we do not get a break
because we haven't had a break in forever
and we are worn out with the burdens
of life as it is--
in order to offer unrelenting evidence
of life as it also is
in each situation as it arises
all our life long.

This is the human covenant with nature.

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