Yes, there is suffering
and pain

in the world and within
( . . . and, are they not both the same?)

often have i pondered
alone and with others
what my response should be
to these tidal waves of suffering

to fall into the bog of despair,
hide in the cave of avoidance and forgetting,
or succumb to the blindness of
self-righteous know-it-better attitudes
is easy

make of yourself a light
seems to be the answer

no blame, no shame
no excuses
just the path

to take the light of peace
and kindheartedness,
of wisdom and patience,
of neutral witnessing wherever i go

to tend this light
of joy and gratitude
for this wondrous gift
we call human life