Belief
Once so beautiful, essential, central
The most important thing
A criterion used to evaluate others
To see if they were ‘one of us’
A source of meaning, purpose, hope
Binding ‘us’ together and setting ‘us’ apart
from ‘them’
Belief
Now so destructive, divisive, perplexing
Naïve arrogance that says “I know the Truth.
Hear it, accept it, and be grateful.”
A blind certainty, unable to look beyond the self
A source of pain, hate, and separation
More effective at keeping us apart
than bringing us together
Uncertainty
An expression far more beautiful
of what I once sought in belief and certainty.
Maybe God exists, maybe he does not
Perhaps Jesus was God incarnate,
but if he was, was it to any greater extent than
the Buddhist woman who tirelessly serves and loves
each person who comes to her restaurant
or the Muslim guard who would give his life
to protect an infidel?
How precious to start in a place that admits
“I have no answers. I don’t know.”
Then there can be listening, empathy, fresh insight
When belief is no longer central
When ideology is taken down from the pedestal
There is space for people, connection, life
Through uncertainty, division begins to fade
Differences inspire joy, wonder, intrigue
The line between ‘us’ and ‘them’ dissolves
Until all that is left
Is us.
PrOsETRY Reflections 