Beatitude for a Divided World

I'm taking a small break from writing about my journey to simplification, and hope to have a new blog soon, but in the meantime, here is a poem I wrote back in Spring 2000. One of the treasures I have found in my journey to simplification!


Beatitude for a Divided World

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Our spirit is poor, our body is poor, but life does not reflect

the kingdom that has been promised. We struggle

everyday to keep our lives in tact. We struggle

everyday to keep food and clothing and needs.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

A friend's body lays so still and without life, yet nothing seemed real

for he had only been smiling and laughing with us just days

before he decided to end it all. We struggle

everyday to understand the reason. We struggle

everyday to comprehend the why.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Greed and desire have overtaken lives around us

devouring the very should that inhabits our body. We struggle

everyday to fight for our own. We struggle 

everyday to find our place.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

We walk the streets and see their faces, sullen from lack of love, 

emaciated from lack of nourishment, empty from lack of hope;

however, they seem to keep fighting to find their reward. We struggle

everyday to learn of their plight. We struggle

everyday to understand why they are there.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Our life is nothing but what we make of it, and only

a reflection of what others see and perceive, for their contribution

is what drives our soul, but their hurtful stares haunt us. We struggle

everyday to comprehend those who hurt us. We struggle 

everyday to be ourselves in an uncaring world.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Our heart is less than pure, filled with desires, greed, wants,

lusts, and fears - yet, there is no way to relinquish those demons

that reside in our heart. We struggle

everyday to overcome the desires. We struggle

everyday to cleanse our soul.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be sons of God.

Peace? What is peace in a world like ours? Men 

who are called worthy, send our brothers - sons - fathers - 

lovers - into a battle that is not their own. Men

who see greed and wealth as their only gods. We struggle

everyday to fight our own battles. We struggle

everyday to stand our ground.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.

We see them everyday - people standing their ground - martyrs in their own right,

gaining a peace within themselves, as those who don't understand

take away a life that is not theirs to take. We struggle

everyday to protect those we love. We struggle

everyday to keep our own safe.

Blessed are those who fight for their lives, for they will suffer in the hands of the wicked.

*from Matthew 5:3-10 - The Beatitudes

**final Beatitude is not from the Biblical Beatitudes