When It Seems The World Screams

By what standard shall we abide?

In who's trust can we confide?

When it seems the world screams-

"The sky is falling!", 

do we just avert our eyes, 

completely hypnotized by just another

nightly news segment that flashes on a screen?

Do our hearts yet burn within,

a grievance, something fierce, 

for all to be made right again?

Can we fan the flame to make it bright

as we march into a new day, 

and can we still love in a real way
like you showed us to begin with?

Have we become too absorbed with keeping score
that we've missed what really matters?
Self-indulged, self-satisfied,
I serve my criticism on gold platters.
It takes the form of defense.
It takes the form of fear.
It takes the form of laying low.
Why trod into new territory when it's safe to stay
on the fence with nearly everything I know?
By what standard shall we abide?
When it seems the world screams-
"I just want to feel accepted!",
can we all just agree that we've been down that road?
Under a blanket of truth, can we find some grace
and some common ground?
Will it lighten your load if you quit dragging it around,
because it's hard to reach out when your hands are full.
With fresh eyes, let us deeply abide,
throwing off these heaps of hurt and pride.
When it seems the world screams,
may we look with eyes of grace.

AEJ  9/9/2015