When we bow our hearts
to our brothers and sisters,
God’s light shines in them
the same way it shines in you,
not brighter,
not dimmer,
the very same sun
wearing a billion different faces.
Forget the campaign rhetoric,
the champagne rhetoric,
the look-at-me,
remember-my-name rhetoric.
Bring common sense.
Bring your everyman,
everywoman,
everychild heart.
Bring open hands,
open doors,
open arms—
not velvet ropes,
not limited access.
For none of us is truly free
until all of us are free.
There is work to be done.
Locks to loosen.
Walls to soften.
Veils to lift.
Traps to untangle,
many built by fear,
many built by pride,
many built by me
and by you.
We are given the gift
and the responsibility
of choice.
So listen.
Tune your ears
to the still small music within—
the OM,
the hum,
the whisper of God’s voice
moving through your breath,
guiding your feet,
glorious.
“But when will we know?”
we ask.
“When will the peace arrive?
When will the healing begin?”
Friend, it began
the moment you stopped to ask.
The stars did not wait.
The earth did not wait.
The dance was already turning,
and it left a place open—
the exact shape of you.
So step in.
Take the hand beside you.
Forgive the one that trembles.
Deep down,
we have always known what is good.
We were only waiting
for someone to begin.
Let it be you.
Smile first.
And watch how the whole world
smiles back, remembering
it was never alone,
and neither,
my friend,
were you.
Rob Chavez 1995 © 1995 Rob Chavez. All Rights Reserved.