Undercurrents

Start Listening
I feel something happening. I have a friend who once was greedy, offering to house and clothe his girlfriend for free until she gets back on her feet. I have a mentor, who is dragging himself out from under the specter of self-pity. I know a girl whom I love, who I can't follow across an ocean, and I broke both of our hearts. I know a woman who's husband refuses to pay child support. My friends and I took an offering for her. A small dent in the despair, but we must keep the love flowing. I know a man who so indulges in the whims of his lady love that he has long ignored his personal passions. He just bought a lap-top with which he plans to compose music. I know a girl, battered by life. I see her swimming against a strong current and floundering.

I sat in my room with five individuals I would die for. I sat and wondered at the compliance and coincidence of life. The little occurrences that go unnoticed, the prodigal friend standing in the doorway rather than sitting on the bed with the rest of us, standing, afraid of rejection. Her body language extolling her apprehension. No one could tell. I might have imagined it. At the moment it was true all the same. There is a bountiful energy in the room. Everyone connects beautifully, just enjoying the glow of one another's company. I hear the music that matches the moment. And my cynical friend begins a whimsical rhyme castigating the talents of Oasis, in order to bring me back down to Earth.

Thank you?

I sit and I compliment, I brazenly flout my opinion as if it matters. I give and receive love, the world turns, and slowly something changes. Realization takes hold. People experience epiphany. Everyone looks around and notices the unacceptability of the situation. We all decide to treat one another with respect.

I wake up.

Things are the same. Hopefully something subtle has taken hold of me, and I endeavor to effect positive change today. Hopefully, but not realistically. I am kept so busy. So self-absorbed. Nothing penetrates the shell of my apathy like it used to. Don't be like me. Fight the impulse to be worthless. Work towards generosity, and hope that it takes hold. Because if it doesn't, we are truly doomed.

If we can't give when we need, then how can we expect to ever give? When aren't we in need? There is so much pain out there. Children left fatherless for one reason or another: death, apathy, love betrayed, poverty, etc. Women abused, faith forgotten, men with the boots of their masters pressed tightly against parched throats.

How long will we take it America? How sick and tired of being sick and tired do we get? When do we draw a line in the sand, stand as men and roar: "No more lies! We are not stupid, we know that things are worse, that we could be making them better, that we are outlawed from doing so. Persecuted for screaming aloud the anguish in our souls! No more! I call thee Molech! False prophet! Seven headed beast of the Earth! Fury and destruction! Fear us for we are united!"

When do we kick the assholes out of office (all of them), and start running things ourselves again? When do we put down the six-pack, the remote control, the smut filled neo-idiot box, the sports illustrated, the numerous layers of distraction? When do we demand truth? I think it's soon.
I pray I'm not imagining things.