MaddogPoetry

Cynicism

The opposite of hope is cynicism.

The opposite of trust is selfishness.

Hope is not “what’s in it for me”.

Trust is not quid pro quo,

cynicism demands loyalty,

without mitigation,

requiring suspicion and scorn,

bullying with blind compliance.

We trust in the “vision”,

dreams, do indeed, come true

and we rest assured,

poised in the Truth

selfishness denies our motivation

for expectant communion,

disrupting a space for repair,

and a time for change.

We hope in the “heartfelt”,

committing with empathy,

as doubt surrenders

to nurturing compassion.

Hope is kind and benevolent.

Trust is gentle and generous.

Hope embraces the Here and Now.

Trust abides in Love.

Good

God,

We need to see, what you see,

in order to hear, what you hear.

For,

it is with you,

we can be good.

God,

Still our being and calm our hearts,

as we accommodate the common good.

For,

it is with you,

we can do good.

God,

Give us the grace to embrace the stranger,

cooperating with all for the greater good.

For,

it is with you,

we are a power for good.

Make it so

IV The Emperor

(based on Meditations on the Tarot by Anonymous)

Submit freely

and reflect Revelation.

Renounce self-serving opinion,

embrace the supreme Truth.

“The Spirit of God was hovering,

over a formless and empty earth” ^[1]

the void – God made a space

without his presence.

The Emperor has pure authority…

not with the spoils of the rod,

but with a sparing staff,

he rules a child’s realm.

From a throne of honor,

while listening to the Lion,

and receiving the Raven,

he protects the mystery.

Beyond the common good,

he was born to serve

not to be served…

cultivating the greater good

“Christ rules all that is good

from a perfect holy place

not made with human hands,

and not of creation”^[2].

[1] Genesis 1:1-2

[2] Hebrews 9:11

Acceptance

Oh God,

I have a sneaking suspicion

about the direction my life is moving,

and the path I am walking;

and to be honest,

I’m a bit apprehensive

about what is ahead.

To be clear,

I’m not asking for You to intervene;

nor, am I suggesting that my life be easier.

I just want to be happy

and need your help

to see what You see,

and hear what you hear.

I have confidence that we walk together in harmony

and I rest assured that you are happy with me.

May it be so

Empower

God,

Help us recognize our failings

and forgive us our faults.

Give us the grace to resist

the influence of affluence.

God,

Bestow on us the blessing

of resting assured

in the comfort

of your compassion.

God,

We treasure the opportunity

to serve wholly,

and we look forward

to doing your will.

God,

We pray for

the good, the bad, and the unknown,

as we promote peace

among all peoples.

Make it so

Magis

Disciplined imagination

reflects God’s reflection.

When I was a child,

reward and punishment

was activity’s pivot.

When caught breaking the rules,

absolution was sought through

atonement and reparation.

As a reflecting adult,

compassion and sacrifice

mirrors Divine mercy.

The Beatitudes rule,

communion is achieved through

submission and grace.

Common good relies on justice

and seeks to maintain order –

regardless of helpfulness.

Greater good promotes harmony

and restores relations –

envisioning accord.

Creative responsibility

reveals God’s revelation.

Goodness

My God,

Why do good things

happen to bad people?

The common good

protects and serves

but objectifies.

My God,

Why do bad things

happen to good people?

The common good

provides law and order

but judges without compassion

My God,

How can I be indifferent

regardless of results?

The Greater Good

promotes acceptance

and enjoins with peace.

My God,

How can I be good

and do good?

The Greater Good

professes trust and hope

and restores harmony.

My God,

As we walk hand in hand

refreshed with communion,

embrace me,

hold me close,

and bestow blessings on me.

Unreasonable

The opposite of faith is reason.

The opposite of belief is pride.

Faith is not proof or fact.

Belief is not rule or law,

reason expands our understanding,

for the social organization,

providing story for history,

and context for the common good.

We believe in the “unseen”,

sincere prayer and seeking,

confides the Truth with us

in Revelation

pride demands what is in it for me,

mandating a selfish quid pro quo,

requiring tribal loyalty,

threatening to cancel allegiance.

We have faith in the “unheard”,

listening makes us yield,

Resistance surrenders

on the narrow Way.

Faith is form and sign.

Belief is trust and hope.

Faith sees visions.

Belief dreams dreams.

A Mother’s Love (Psalm 61)

Dear Mother, hear my cry;

listen to my prayer.

I call to you,

my heart aches;

give me peace and equanimity.

You are my safe harbor,

protect me and shield me.

I long to rest assured in your presence

and relax in the harmony of creation.

I will keep my promises, my Lady;

and I pray that my faith will have children.

Give length to my days,

and breadth to my years.

Thank you for your companionship;

I feel your love and faithfulness.

I sing my prayers

with courage, strength and patience.

xx Judgement

based on “Meditations on the Tarot” by Anonymous

God’s will is our peace,

not in passing away,

rather, in the greater good

of restoration

“… your dead will live,

their bodies will rise

let those who dwell in the dust

wake up and shout for joy…”[1]

Made possible with reparation,

life after death is not a reward,

nor a consequence nor retribution,

it perpetuates the power for good.

No thanks to systems,

but rather despite them,

faith lives beyond the common good,

preserving faith with companionship.

We neglect what is not loved,

we reflect what is loved –

the gentleness of a mother,

the kindness of a father.

attentiveness complies with God’s will

pray for it to always be done.

“God is love, when we abide in love,

we abide in God, and God in us.”[2]

[1] Isaiah 26, 19

[2] 1 John 4:16