Suggestions

 
The suggestion has been made
that I tend to ignore details I find inconvenient
in my naïve pursuit of a better world…
“But what about the future?”
“That’s not how things work.”
“No one thinks that way.”
“We just can’t afford it.”

But I do see details – if they’re important -
I just don’t fabricate imaginary barriers;
so much of what people value
and cling to keep in their half-empty glass
is ultimately meaningless anyway.
The details I choose to see show me
that the better world is already here
for those with the eyes to see it:
in steadfast friends talking eye-to-eye,
in the old country church welcoming refugees,
in the youth, full of compassion and fire for justice,
in the weathered old man feeding hungry birds.

So my counter-suggestion is
that the glass is not half full –
it’s full to the brim and overflowing
with abundant love and grace for all,
if only we have the courage to let it in
and then share with the neighbour beside us.