Meanderings

I'm just back from a morning walk.
Beautiful, perfect morning
All blue and golden and textured greens.
Fresh air on skin like a cool drink of water.
Dewy grass creates an impromptu bath
For Eugene as he rolls and rolls
Fluffy dog turning drowned rat
With happy grin.

At my feet now
A paper trail
Of torn text book
I stop to read the headings
FORMAL REPORT TRANSMITTAL
Says one
BAR CHART
Says another
Complete with diagrams
To prove it wasn't kidding.

My energy drops
And my heart aches for the poor kid
In summer school
Learning Formal Report Transmittal procedures
And correct construction of bar charts
Instead of lying on the grass and gazing at the clouds
As they dance around the sun.

When did we get so obsessed
With labels and procedures and commodifying
That we miss the point of living.

The passion to acquire, more and more
And to count it like a miser to ensure
We're doing better than the next guy
Or the next company, or the next country.
Where's the bliss in that?

Look up and see the bountiful sky
Stretching to infinity without wondering
Whether it's too much or not enough
Feel the warm embrace of the sun
How radiant and happy it is to shine upon us
Unconditional upon how we are achieving in this moment
Sharing itself equally with all.

Living from the heart would change the world
Compassion replacing competition and acquisition
What good are profit margins and bar charts
When love, beauty, joy and peace of mind
Are the experiential cost

I cry with joy for the beauty of this morning
And I cry with compassion for all those
Too busy to notice and experience eternity within it.
We are always at choice.

Bar chart for a soul, anyone?