MAKING OUR WAY

         
I woke at 3 A.M. and 
looked out the window
Long shadows of the trees 
were laying on the ground
The moon was bright but out of sight 
from my vantage point

I looked up through and past 
the trees to see many constellations
I thought to myself 
how impressive it would be if
I could name each of 
the ones that I saw
It wouldn’t really mean anything, 
except that I could

There are people who could 
name not only them but
Others that could not be seen 
in the sky this early morning
There are also people who do not 
know the name of their neighbor

It would seem ironic to know 
the stars but not the people next door
Life as we know it 
is very much like that

We see many people on a regular basis 
but don’t know them
We say hello, have a nice day, 
the weather looks good, but
Do not even know their 
first name or who they are

Most of us are gregarious to some extent, 
but still absorbed with ourselves
Other people’s cares and concerns 
are not important to us

We do not think of these things 
when we encounter them
Everything we do or say is 
wrapped with our personal interests

When an emergency or crisis occurs 
things like this change
Suddenly it is important 
to be recognized and to recognize
Those we encounter and ourselves should 
have a mutual interest in our welfare

We feel our needs and wants 
exceed those of the ones helping us
Now and then we are broken from 
this selfish web of living
We wake to the fact that someone or 
others are in need of our help

No panic takes place, but a concerted, 
personal effort is present
We strive to the fullest degree 
to accomplish the task at hand
Bring comfort and a degree of importance 
to the one we are serving
In the end of this effort professionals 
usually take over and we are not needed

This leaves us with mixed feelings; 
one of being full and one of emptiness
We who have sidestepped involvement up to now 
suddenly feel lonely

That need to be of help has been awakened 
and now we want more
Things that were of importance to us 
seem empty and uninteresting
The desire to be involved in helping others 
and serving them well supersedes
All of the other petty and superfluous 
things we were doing

We have a new outlook on life and 
one that will bring great rewards
The sense of accomplishment is 
a basic need as is recognition
We have a feeling of belonging 
which is a key must have
Along with the opportunity 
to do things for others

We feel very secure as we 
gaze at the moon and stars and
Happy that we have neighbors to 
share our joys and concerns with
Sorry for what we have missed, but 
thankful for what we now have
 
Stanski
March 16, 2020 ^