FORGIVING

'foregive them father
for they know not what they do'
so said the gentle carpenter
as he was raised up high
above the assembled crowd
and left to die an excruciating death...
oh the art of living is no easy ride
it is not about harbouring grudges or resentments
it is not about lashing out
or throwing stones
the art of living is to cultivate understanding and compassion
to conserve patience and kindness
to pick up the spade and dig down deep
into reserves of integrity you didn't know you had
burying the useless anger and bitterness
and unearthing the treasure chest of sparkling jewels
sometimes fireseed falls short of his own expectations
the wild angry consuming flames burn
where the warm embers should glow
the good seed bursting with spring potential
somehow morphs into the bad seed
the bitter winter chill stunting its growth
this seed extends its roots and tendrils in search of nutrients
and finds none
until one day
the warm sun shines on the moist earth
and a little shoot sprouts shyly from the ground