top of page
Writer's picturecharitykahn

The Light That Could Have Saved The World


I decided that the day the world is supposed to end is as fine a day as any to start the blog I’ve been meaning to start for several years. Hello, everyone. It’s good to see you here.

There are lots of theories floating around as to the significance of this day, 12/21/2012 — everything from Armageddon to Enlightenment. Clearly we are a species and planet on the brink of some transformation, but in which direction are the winds of change blowing?

Over the last century, acts of hatred and destruction seem to have grown exponentially. These events and their energy stick in our minds and terrify, paralyze and shame us so deeply we begin to believe we stand powerless in their wake. Apathy, cynicism, denial and the many and varied ways we have invented to numb ourselves often follow. We succumb to the dark side, for inaction in the face of violence is unarguably a form of violence itself.

But I believe in my heart that acts of compassion, wisdom and kindness have been increasing just as dramatically. There is a spiritual awakening occurring around the world — certainly in the hearts of individuals, and sometimes in communities and even nations. There is a “return to love”, as Marianne Williamson would say, like we have never seen — proof that something in us knows what to do.

We are very powerful, it turns out, and the planet reached its current state on our watch and as consequence of our choices. Yes, OURS. And because of the very real and imminent threats to our planet and all life due to climate change, cruelty and greed, we need to wake up NOW and use our immense strength and intention to turn the tides. We need to grow compassion and wisdom and kindness faster than all that other stuff. We need to love and work for peace in all its interpretations, just — as Pema Chodron has said — “as if our hair were on fire”. For it might as well be at this point.

So let this be the day, let this be the moment, that we begin the end of a world that values money over life, acquisition over benevolence, tyranny over collaboration, and fear over love. Let us believe that we are in charge, that we are powerful. And let us remember that there is no end to love, and only love is real. We can do this.

On that note, here is a poem for you, from my deepest heart. It is certainly a sad poem, for a sad time. But if you suspend disbelief, and invite in the magical idea that it’s never too late to shift things IN THIS MOMENT, never too late to make living amends, never too late to see what is right here in front of us, never too late to change, never too late for a miracle, and never, never too late to love, you might also hear a message of joy and hope, and maybe even some solutions (no matter how micro) for beginning to create a world worthy and reflective of our children, and of the basic human goodness deep inside everyone’s hearts.

Let me say it one more time: It is NEVER too late to love. I love you.

THE LIGHT THAT COULD HAVE SAVED THE WORLD

how are we to know upon what shores the battle next will rage surely all comes home the same your shore is my shore, here or there

he loses a limb you lose your job she loses a child they lose their source of clean water a nation loses itself we all lose our home and our hearts break, and bleed

we have almost out-bred integrity compassion wisdom respect perspective kindness truth gratitude self-preservation even joy – an evolutionary experiment gone awry and one which will appropriately take care of itself if allowed to continue

had we an accurate perspective on time we might wink and nod at the insignificance of this error of biology and how we could all be wiped away – and the garden with us – in a relative millisecond the garden starting over in one form or another growing anew and mysterious and magnificent and perhaps even learning something from its mistakes

but we are in the meantime and the garden waits, frozen for us to make a choice

as in a dream we begin to strain with every muscle and heart fiber a desperate devotion calling us to turn this impossibly heavy ship away from the sharp sudden edge of our beloved earth

as in a dream it feels too slow and we cry and scream out our horror and grief all the while pushing, breathing, believing holding it miraculously all at once for there are children on board and we are the ones at the helm

we know we need to wake up and do this in real time now and together

so please don’t stay away come visit my shore we’ll sob into each other’s exhausted arms dance our love into the dirt sing into the air that still feeds us and bow down to the waterfalls to the mountains to the clouds to the double rainbows to the shiny sun and sparkly stars to every creature great and small and to yet one more day spared for loving

but most of all to our children for they shine with the light that could have saved the world and it is like a benediction and a resolution of sorts to see it still and always glowing warmly there in their smiles and in the simple movements of their arms and legs and in the questions they ask and even in the way they drape themselves around their open hearts while sleeping

because in this light is contained the love of everything and all things and no thing which, by definition, can never die

[poem copyright 2011-2012 Charity Kahn; that said, please share it]

7 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comentarios


bottom of page