(This is a blog post I have posted before, but I felt the need to post it again with added thoughts.)

Helen Keller said, “Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.”

How many people go about their days only seeing the devastation in the world? Every single aspect of the world is negative to them, and there is no brighter side to anything. Yes, there are many terrible and tragic situations that happen. We cannot be naive enough to actually believe the world is this perfect place of bright shining light. It’s not; however, it does have rays of sunshine within it. There are people who have met an unfortunate end, but there are also people who are survivors. There are terrible situations everywhere, but there are also blessings and miracles. Yes, there is grief and sorrow—but there is also laughter and joy. There are people who seem to not care about anyone else, but there are also people–who given the opportunity–prove that they care very much.

Though the sky has a time of darkness, there is light even in that darkness. That is how life is. Though the thunder is loud and angry, and the lightning is a dangerous flash of fury–the rainbow after the storm is still beautiful.

In the midst of all of the darkness found within this world, there is still a hopeful light that shines within kind smiles, kind prayers, moments of laughter, and times when someone just takes the time to care. Let us not forget the brighter side. Let us never become convinced that there is never hope or love anywhere. No matter how dark it gets, the light of love and hope can always be found somewhere. Always.

And even if it is wishful thinking, let us believe that despite all of the negativity that wants to divide us—there is Love that wants us to come together. Though we may not always see eye to eye, we should never allow ourselves to stand in the dark, cold shadows of hatred. There is a brighter side to life–one in which the ability to love can conquer even the toughest of obstacles. We are not a perfect world, and as individuals…we are each flawed in one way or another. Though we will not always agree, we are too eager to automatically disagree. We are too ready to see our differences, and too willing to cast our fellow human beings aside when one viewpoint of life differs from another. A vengeful heart only creates vengeance, and vengeance will only destroy. Hatred is darkness, and the darkness of this world can only be conquered by the Light of Love. Some will whisper it is wishful thinking. Some will shout it is impossible. Others will simply pass it by. But to the ones who believe there is a brighter side…let us continue to encourage and inspire our world!

“For Cade” By Ed Roberts

 

I wish I could have met you

Yesterday

Had a chance to sit down with you

And talk

 

There are so many things

I could have asked you

So many stories

I could have shared with you

 

I could have read you a poem

5 Single Words

Told you about one of the darkest

And brightest days of my life

 

I could have told you

No matter how bad things seem

No matter the reason you came to your conclusion

There is always hope

There is always a tomorrow

There are always those who love you

 

Who would die for you

No matter how hard it is to see

They are always there

I sit here crying right now

Wishing with all my heart

That somehow

I could have met you yesterday

Even though

Deep down I know

Not even tears

Can turn back the hands of time

 

All I can do

Now

Is sit here typing on a computer

Trying to see the keys through falling teardrops

And pray

Pray that somehow someone in the future

Facing the same situation you were facing

Finds these few words

And maybe

Somehow

I can spend the day

With them

 

-Ed Roberts 9/26/12-

 

There are some wounds the heart and soul can never fully heal

All that we can pray for

Is that with love

And time

They can at least mend

———-

Hopefully others will share this as well.

“Isn’t life strange?” I asked the stressed out, frustrated, and rather confused reflection of myself in the mirror as I leaned over the bathroom sink.

“Where have you been?” was the next question I boldly asked myself. It was the type of question that caused me to attempt to answer myself by analyzing the fragmented thoughts of my mind.

These thoughts scolded me, and it was as if each one pointed its finger in the face of my reflection as they shouted in shame, guilt, and disappointment…

“You’ve managed to drift far away into the dark waters that care nothing for the beauty in life. Your once vibrant voice is now silenced by the vain things that have already corrupted so many others. Life is more than gaining material things! You have forgotten how to cherish the most important treasures in life. Look at how quickly you have forgotten to cherish blessings given to you both big and small. You have failed the simple tests because you are too focused on the complicated things. You once appreciated sunny days, but isn’t it strange that you do not even pause anymore to appreciate the very life given to you? Where have you been?”

And my only answer is…I have been consumed. Consumed by the burdens of a perfectionist…consumed by the overwhelming need to dot every  ‘i’ and cross every ‘t’…consumed by deadlines that can never be met…consumed by hearts that can’t be changed…consumed by problems I cannot solve…consumed by running, and running, and running without getting anywhere at all…consumed by the fear of failure…consumed by…by the very things I said I’d never be consumed by.

I ventured into the woods of the complicated matters and lost my way. I never have been fond of a complicated atmosphere, and I long to return to the basics. I long to return to what is familiar to me—the peace I feel on bended knees, the echo of poetry within my soul, the beauty of life in the simplicity of a butterfly landing on a flower. I stare into the eyes of my reflection, and I search for the sparkle that was once there. I tremble when I cannot see it—but it senses the eagerness of my soul, it hears the call of my heart, it is embraced by the warmth of my faith…and it ever so gently appears to guide me back to where I once held the hand of Peace. The simplicity of life calls to me in the language of poetry…

And I whisper to my reflection…

 

I must return…

 

I will return…

 

Home.

Throughout these past few weeks, I have constantly heard about the concept of ‘freedom of speech.’ I have heard all manner of things said, and these comments were followed by—“Well, I can say whatever I feel like saying because I have the freedom to do so.” Freedom of speech usually branches out to freedom of expression as well.

 So here we are world! Here we are with this freedom to say whatever it is we want to say and to express ourselves in any way we choose!

 Still…

 I wonder…

 Where do we draw the line? Just because we have the freedom to say whatever it is we want to say, does that give us the RIGHT to say it?

 Do we tend to agree with freedom of speech/expression only when we agree with the viewpoint behind it?

 Does freedom of speech/expression have a way of promoting a selfish society—one with the mentality of, “Forget how others feel! Forget what happens! I have the right to say whatever I want to say however I want to say it!?”

 Are we a world that has largely forgotten the consequences of ‘just saying whatever it is we feel like saying?’

Or is it that there are some people who are ruining the true intentions of this freedom by using it negatively?

 What do you think about freedom of speech and expression?

 For this particular issue, I will not post my opinion separately (as a separate post the following week). I will reply to each comment with a honest opinion to further the discussion.

Behind the scenes of my poem, “Throw the Stones:” This poem is about two years old. To be honest, this particular poem is rather dark in nature because I was quite angry in this poem. While writing this, I felt that some people have a tendency to form opinions about people and situations that they really don’t know anything about. So, this poem is really about taking a stand against wrongful judgment and how wrongful judgment could make a person feel.

Unfortunately, because of technical difficulties in formatting this poem in this post…I am unable to post it here.

If you would like to read “Throw the Stones” I welcome you to join me at Abstract Soul by clicking on the link at the end of this post which will lead you right to the poem. Abstract Soul is my online poetic journey, and you’re welcome to explore the site in its entirety.

If you cannot join me at Abstract Soul, that’s okay…have a wonderful day!

But if you have some time…here’s “Throw the Stones:”

http://www.abstract-soul.com/throw-the-stones.php