Top comment.
I also like let's don't Hello and welcome.
Thank you so much for taking this time to spend together.
The title of today's poetry reading is perception and currency.
What makes someone human?
Not in this idealized notion that every being is human,
But in this familial,
Relational,
And communal context of humanity.
What I saw today made my blood run cold.
Humane treatment was distributed on the basis of perception and currency.
If and only if I look well put together and I pay with plastic,
I get the thoughtful extra and the lovely tones of gratitude just for my existence.
If I am unkept and scarred by life and balled up like trash,
I uncrumple my dollar bill to pay my fare.
I get the distracted service and rushed goodbyes and hollow stares.
Ain't I human?
Not female or male,
Nor any human you see,
But fundamentally the breath of Abba named.
I'm frustrated because humanity is invisible,
Masked by greed completely.
So the things that we discuss in today's poetry reading encompass the definition of humanity as well as humane treatment.
This poem was inspired by my trip to the bookstore.
And just outside of the bookstore slash cafe,
There's an array of homelessness and poverty.
And out of the God that lives in me,
I reached out to feed my brothers and sisters who were in need.
And when we went inside the bookstore,
We were met with such brash harshness and unkindness.
And a part of me grieved because we are all fundamentally brothers and sisters because we were created by our father and his love and his presence.
So we're going to take a moment to inhale and exhale all of that writhing frustration and grief.
Now,
Let's take a moment together for reflection.
And if you'd like,
Take out your journal.
Or if you choose to,
Feel free to silently contemplate or even message me or send me a voice chat.
But our first contemplative thought is,
Have I ever experienced my humanity diminished by what I don't have?
Our next question is,
Have I ever participated in the humanity of some other being?
And diminishing the humanity of some other being.
Our next Our next question is,
Do I value human life and existence over material things?
Or is the value that I place on the tangible greater than my fellow man?
Our next question is,
On our journeys toward becoming love and light and salt,
How can I be a ray of sunshine in someone's cloudy day today?
Our final question is,
What is my expression of love?
And how can I give that to someone today?
Thank you for engaging together in this exercise of thought.
Sometimes life is just jammed packed with obligations that we forget that we are human and we have the duty to our humanity.
So I thank you for remembering that and for honoring that and moving through that.
When you're ready to get let's take our final deep,
Deep breath in and out.
There is so much inside of you to not only experience but to give and I thank you for challenging yourself and for engaging with yourself,
With me and with our father in this moment.
And as always,
I look forward to seeing you at the next bend in the road.
