Here’s another poem for you, this one written in March of 2004. Perhaps you can relate…
Beatitude
by Nikki Starcat Shields
Everyone thinks that Jesus went around
Smiling and blessing babies,
Like a campaigning politician,
Healing people with ease and grace.
They think that Mother Theresa
Gave without effort, renewed each day
By the joy of helping her people.
That Ghandi took on suffering
Like other people put on clothing,
Doing just what he was called to do.
But they didn’t.
They were all overwhelmed
By the outrageous waves of feeling –
Others’ anguish, crashing onto them
Moment after moment
Until they must act,
Must make some thrashing movement
Toward a distant shore
Or drown in the heaviness
Of every day.
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