I’m paying attention
I see it
The blood
The bodies
The children
Families
Homes
Lives
All destroyed
I hear you
I you wanting me to call out
To ring out
To say that you are right and they are wrong
That they are evil and your grief and vengeance is justified
I want your approval
I want to be seeing as doing the ‘right thing’
Being a ‘good person’
And I’m paralyzed
Because I see both sides
I see the death
The destruction
The fear
The hopelessness
The grief
I see it and know that neither side is immune from it
No one is above it
I’m paying attention
And I’m filled with grief and sadness
The endless loop of death and hatred
Today it is Israel/Palestine
Today it is our American Society
Ukraine, Yemen, Hurricanes, Famine, School Shootings, Car Jackings….
And the numbness sets in
I’m paying attention
I hear your cries
I see both sides
I wanted to say something profound
And all I have are these words….
Which feel wholly inadequate
And wholly authentic
I’m paying attention…
(I also feel incredibly scared to share this and relieved that I have.)