10.09.2003
Am I My Brother's Keeper?
Sometimes in our lives we all have pain | We all have sorrow | But if we are wise | We know that there's always tomorrow... ~ Bill Withers
"Do you ever think I'll find, that peace I see radiating from you?" He asked sincerely, his head tilted slightly to the right. From his stance, I could see the trust in his eyes. Trust he placed in me, a stranger. 'Why?' I wondered, 'would he trust me to predict his future? Did he somehow see in me, something I had missed? Could I possibly say the right words to convince him of something I myself had long doubted?'
I watched him, as he waited patiently for an answer.
"My friend," I said moments later, "everything you desire, you already have---the love, the understanding, the peace---all these things are yours. Not because I have told you so, but because it is so." I smiled. "It is only when you become fully aware of thier presence, will they make themselves known to you. So you see, I cannot give you the answers to the questions you seek. In time you will learn that there is no right or wrong way. No left or right. Only, the moment."
Confusion rode his face as he internalized my words. I could see the wheels turning, desperately trying to piece together the puzzle. I reached out to him just as the first tear fell. In my arms I comforted him, hoping to ease the pain. His eyes, oh such beautiful eyes, bled with the pain of empty promises and broken dreams. His body trembled as he spoke...
"But I can't go on like this," he cried, "I cannot..."
I cupped his face in my hands. "You can, and you will. You are destined for greatness. The moment you choose to acknowledge this truth, nothing you desire shall be denied. I speak truth to you, for I have been there. Yes, I too have suffered through the uncertainty of today only to find clarity in the morn. I too have crumbled underneath mounds of pressure...and yes, I too felt it impossible to deal with the pain of one more day. But, somehow, somewhere, I found the strength to persevere, and so shall you my friend. So shall you."
Yes, I am my brother's keeper. So too are you...
"Do you ever think I'll find, that peace I see radiating from you?" He asked sincerely, his head tilted slightly to the right. From his stance, I could see the trust in his eyes. Trust he placed in me, a stranger. 'Why?' I wondered, 'would he trust me to predict his future? Did he somehow see in me, something I had missed? Could I possibly say the right words to convince him of something I myself had long doubted?'
I watched him, as he waited patiently for an answer.
"My friend," I said moments later, "everything you desire, you already have---the love, the understanding, the peace---all these things are yours. Not because I have told you so, but because it is so." I smiled. "It is only when you become fully aware of thier presence, will they make themselves known to you. So you see, I cannot give you the answers to the questions you seek. In time you will learn that there is no right or wrong way. No left or right. Only, the moment."
Confusion rode his face as he internalized my words. I could see the wheels turning, desperately trying to piece together the puzzle. I reached out to him just as the first tear fell. In my arms I comforted him, hoping to ease the pain. His eyes, oh such beautiful eyes, bled with the pain of empty promises and broken dreams. His body trembled as he spoke...
"But I can't go on like this," he cried, "I cannot..."
I cupped his face in my hands. "You can, and you will. You are destined for greatness. The moment you choose to acknowledge this truth, nothing you desire shall be denied. I speak truth to you, for I have been there. Yes, I too have suffered through the uncertainty of today only to find clarity in the morn. I too have crumbled underneath mounds of pressure...and yes, I too felt it impossible to deal with the pain of one more day. But, somehow, somewhere, I found the strength to persevere, and so shall you my friend. So shall you."
Yes, I am my brother's keeper. So too are you...
