Some people seek enlightenment
For special powers
And expanded consciousness
For secret knowledge
But the path
Is not one of power
It is one of self-control
The focus should be
On the path itself
And the goal cannot
Be reduced to the outcome
We struggle not for recognition
Or for any special abilities
True enlightenment
Values ethics above knowledge
We can spend an eternity
Gathering facts
But truth provides the direction
And the structure to our path
Some people think that self-knowledge
Requires the elimination of
Individual identity
And the only thing gained
Is the abandonment of desire
To truly understand the eternal
Is to understand the unity
Of self control and imagination
To embrace paradox
With enthusiasm
And to accept truth
With limited knowledge
To comprehend the infinite
Means to give up
Our lust for control
It is ok to believe something
Even when you cannot fully
Grasp all the details
There are things the Spirit says
That cannot be described in words
There is a form of self-control
That goes beyond abstinence
Of pleasure and power
Seeking the Spirit
Doesn’t just involve
The mastery of your intellect
But the subjugation of your emotions
To surrender your will to the Spirit
Does not mean surrendering your freedom
And the successful outcome
Of the disciplines of meditation
Is not about unity without individuality
There is a way that leads to bondage
That is filled with light
And with the discovery of secrets
And there is a way to the Spirit
Which is filled with troubles
And will require all your effort
What kind of enlightenment do you want?

People tend to go to extremes
In a number of well known
Asian belief systems
God is seen as a unity
Where God and His creation are one
And in Abrahamic religions
God is seen as being separate from His creation
The most well-reasoned response
Seems to be somewhere in the middle
Nature is to be treasured
After all, it is the art of God
And animals should be treated well
Animals have spirits,
Just as people do
To poison the rivers
Or burn the forests
Is as destructive as stealing
Or as immoral as adultery
But the animals are not Gods
The river is not really a spirit
It is true that there are supernatural powers
And that the spiritual world is real
But we should be worshiping God, the Creator
As well as respecting His creation, nature
But it makes no more sense to worship a monkey
Than it does to worship a person
Spending time in nature
Should bring us closer to our Creator
But we don’t need to pray to the animal
Before we eat it
It would be better if we just treated
It like a fellow sentient being
With compassion and respect
While it is still alive
Nature is not our enemy
Nor is it our God
But loving God
And caring for nature
Are one in the same

I long to be joined with You
I long to be a part of Your plan
I submit my desires to You
My heart desires what is right
And my soul cries out to You
Hide my under Your wings
I am so cold and hungry
Even though I have plenty to eat
And I can afford good clothes
I thirst and I am in a fever
Without Your word
I feel lost and alone
I feel the weight of the world
The problems of the planet
Bring me to despair
We have been gluttons
And we consume all that is good
All of your creation
In our limitless desire
To quench our spirit’s thirst
For something real
Something different
Now our sweet drinks
No longer satisfy our thirst
And our large portions of meat
Do not satisfy our hunger
We have heard from those
Who hate everything You stand for
We have been ridiculed
Because we have tried to
Take a stand for victims of our
Relentless desire for more
We make every kind of excuse
As reason to neglect our God
And we reward those
Who victimize the less fortunate
The little good that
I long to spread
Is victim to my hard heart
How can I fight for what is right
When I am just as guilty?
You and I are separated
By an entire Universe
And yet you offer me Your hand
I have built up an offering
But it is not enough
To cover my shame
I offer the best I have
But it falls eternally short
Of what You desire for me
How can I break free
From the desire to succeed
When the good side
Continues to be defeated?
How can I resist corruption
When I am afraid of
Being mocked for my
Beliefs in You?
It hurts me to the core
That I cannot be
The champion of Your legacy
I want to be the one
That brings Your grace
And the truth of Your reality
To my nation
But how can I continue
When the very means
In which I am sustained
Is crumbling and ruined?
I seek the truth of Your word
In the words my country hates
I find no company
In my belief and my struggle
To boldly proclaim
The essence of who You are
I am divided against
Those I care about
And find company
In those who hate my beliefs
Who call the enemy
The very things I hope to
Stand firm in my support of
And the very things
I am told I should avoid
Why is it that I cannot
Find anyone who
Shares my vision of Your spirit
In the company of Your people?
Why is it that those who hate You
Remind me more of You
Than Your followers?
Why is it that Your believers
Shun me and berate me?
I know that I am just as foolish
As they are
But I cannot help but still
Hold onto what I believe
And they want no part
I am the enemy of the
Very people whose faith
I hold dear

I love You and Your creation
Why do those that hate You
Love Your creation?
And those who love You
Hate Your creation?
I love the Creator
Who is Lord of His creation
And I am but a small part
But I desire to be united
With my Creator
Not in a way that We
Would be one entity
But that I might be reconciled
Of those things that keep
Us apart in spirit and truth
I see You in Your creation
Even though I know You
Are not part of the creation
I seek to understand You
By what You have created
I feel closest to You
When I admire
What You have created
You are not one with Your creation
But Your creation reflects
Your imagination
And your self-control
Your divine qualities
Are self-evident
By all that which exists
I am a creator
Of just shadows of reality
I appreciate what You have created
By my attempts at creativity
You are the Artist of nature
And my Creator
How can I know You
Outside the context of Your art
You are greater than all
You have brought into existence
You are present in all aspects
Of all that exists
Nothing is created that was not
Part of Your vision
I cannot take responsibility
For the good parts of what
I have succeeded in realizing
You alone are the Author
Of all that is real
The Creator of the machine
Gets credit for the machine’s work
And the machines gets credit
For what it failed to produce
So You deserve the credit
For my success
And I take credit
For my failings

You fill the entire universe
And yet stretch beyond all creation
Yet You choose to dwell
In my heart and in my soul
I struggle to maintain
Myself as a benevolent force
With my work
I seek to denounce injustice
And to embrace truth
You are ever my companion
And you are my King
I do nothing without You
When I feel farthest from You
You come closer to me than ever before
I believe You will never leave me
Anymore than my parents
Or my sister would reject me
There is no limit to my adoration
Of my Lord and Creator
I have a confidence
That I will leave a positive mark
In this world of turmoil
By Your power
The only things worth doing
Are those that glorify You
You are my protector
I venture out into the cold world
Only because you are my Savior
I can only stand up for what is right
Because of Your grace
I would never dream
Of trying anything new
Without Your vision
There is no book that I enjoy more
Than Your word
You are my future and my past
There is no where I can go
Where You are not already there
Every challenge I face
I am not alone
You are my Eternal Friend
And my Everlasting Hope
You have defeated my greatest enemy
My own desires
You have saved my from
My bad decisions
And You will stay with me
Past death and through eternity
There is nothing to fear
Because You have already defeated
The greatest source of evil
My human heart
You have cleansed me of my sins
And I stand before you whole
Because you have healed me
There is no one I owe more
Than You
I plead Your grace
So that I may enjoy the presence
Of Your Holy Spirit within me

Let my heart understand Your truth
Let me see through the shadows
Let me comprehend the light of Your grace
I do not want to desire
That which is corrupt and meaningless
Help me to break through
This wall that holds me back
My heart is broken and aching
For Your grace
I submit my will to You
Please give me the courage
To face my darkest thoughts
And give me the strength
To conquer my rebellious attitude
I am one with the fallen
In my heart and mind
Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit
And grant me grace
When I do not measure up
Let me grow in wisdom
By the study of Your word
I choose You
Above all else
And do not desire
To do that which keeps me
From Your presence
I know that You will
Never walk farther
Than the door
Even when I fear Your wrath
You are slow to anger
And quick to forgive
Please apply the blood of Your son
And grant me Your blessing
Even though I can do nothing
To be worthy of it
Please grant me the ability
To help others
And to do Your will
Not as compensation for my failings
But out of my gratitude
For what you have done
For me and all people
Even though I cannot earn
Your free gift of salvation
I seek to do what I can
To acknowledge my debt to You
It is only a small token gift
But if you give me the strength
I will work to show You my love
For as long as I live here
And forever after unto eternity

How can I both know
That nothing I do
Can earn Your forgiveness
And yet still try to do Your will
When I am so weak and depend
Totally on You?
I desire to give my all
To control my thoughts
And conquer my fears
By my own strength
Because I do not deserve
Your guidance and support
But I know that I am nothing
Without Your constant grace
How do the decisions I make
Mean anything when
I need Your help
To realize any moral action?
If I cannot comprehend
The mystery of Your
Awesome power
And my simple choice
How can I share
This relationship with others?
I long to have the strength
To do what is right
By my own discipline
And my own understanding
Of Your word
I long to be an example
Of what is right
I long to teach others
To realize Your wisdom
I long to grow in
The knowledge of Your word
How can I know Your way
And yet be powerless
To change who I am?
Why would You grant me
Your love and Your salvation
When I don’t even follow
Your leadership in my life?
I long to serve under Your command
But no matter how much I learn
It does not get any easier
I am the receiver of a gift
That is too great for me
You saved my life
I am indebted to You forever
Please grant me the grace
To open my eyes to Your power
And find the courage
To keep on struggling
Knowing that You are
Always on my side
Let me give You
What I can
And please don’t despise
That the gift is so small
Please help me to accept
That it is ok
That I cannot repay
Your kindness
And let it inspire me
To keep up the good fight
From everlasting to everlasting

Taking responsibility
For your own study
And your own path
To reach beyond death
And improve yourself
To know restraint
And to realize eternity
Does not mean
That your journey
Is all alone
Your master teaches
You and guides you
Along the path
To spiritual understanding
But I will never be greater
Than my Master
My desire for enlightenment
Is not about what I do
It is a gift of the Master
It is not a secret path
And there are no
Need for rituals
To reconcile me
With the Eternal
It is a matter of
Realizing my station
Within the context
Of all sentient beings
The transformation
Is spontaneous and permanent
It is an exercise of the will
The Master does almost everything
The pupil only acknowledges
What is true in every reality
I ascend only after death
I take nothing
But my own spirit
This is the hardest path
Not because the test
Or the methods are difficult
But making the necessary choice
Takes true humility
There is no recognition
And there are no special abilities
But it is something
Anyone can do
By the Grace of the Spirit
And the reward
Is eternal life without desire
And perfect peace
Greater than any meditation
Can deliver

Who can comprehend the mystery
Of our Lord Jesus Christ?
Who has the imagination to
Illuminate the living Word?
How could God
Be reconciled with man enough
For God to live as a Person?
How can we understand
What it would be like
To be all-powerful
And yet with human limitations?
Thought to only a man by some
Why didn’t He reveal His glory
While in human form?
How could He maintain
Proper limits and conquer desire?
How great would be the temptation
To destroy those who questioned
His honesty and His judgment
With each miracle He performed
And through all the trials and suffering
How great must have His compassion
For all who have lived and will live
To be fully God while enduring
The ridicule and torture of men
Many people today think
That Jesus is an analytical God
A God of white people
Who loves America
No matter how evil we become
That the mystery of Christ
Can be reconciled with Science
That it is ok to use the word Christian
For anything you want to justify
That being rich doesn’t affect your faith
And allowing people to live in poverty
Without intervention is acceptable
To the Living God
That you can have any view you want
And still be Christian
That your life can be the same
As those who don’t believe
And still call yourself Christian
That you can believe in only
What you understand of God’s Word
That you can improve yourself enough
That you no longer need to confess
Your sins to God every night
That you can have the same values
As those who don’t believe
How can you not be in awe of Christ
And think highly of yourself
If you claim to be a believer?

In life there is pain
But not all life is pain
We see the world crumbling
As we analyze the facts
But the truth is we survive
We do wrong things
We destroy nature
But there is still good
In the world
Just because we see
Pain in our lives
We struggle to earn our keep
We fight to make order
Out of chaos
We seek to build
Where there once were ruins
Just as we see opposing forces
In our own daily lives
So it is in the life of the spirit
We fear spiritual evil
But God is more powerful
We struggle to do what is right
And yet we sin
We continue to yearn for holiness
And yet we fall short
The process of creation and destruction
Is the process of life
The plants grow from the soil
They take in the carbon dioxide
And breath out oxygen
Animals and people do the opposite
The plants release seeds
Which are eaten by birds
Then they are scattered
As the birds fly
And release their waste
The plants die
And the nutrients return
To the soil
This is the way
In this theater of existence
But that is not the way things
Need to happen forever
We have hope beyond death
To live in a world
That is creative without destruction
Where there is good but no bad
There is joy but no suffering
It is incomprehensible to our minds
But it is our future
It is as things will be
For all eternity

We are surrounded on all sides
By imperfection and disharmony
We struggle to merely live
And we battle certain sorrow
With humor and disbelief
The human spirit
Endures all
And laughs at defeat
Despair does no succeed
In driving out hope
To live is to disregard
The certainty of death
As we study facts
Of our world today
And our lack of influence
We are filled with indifference
And we see no reason
To pursue truth
And eternal values
But in choosing to survive
We make a stand
To not be overwhelmed
By the cries of the sick
And the darkness of evil deeds
We are not heroes
We have chosen to be survivors
Faced on all sides by incomprehensible
And insurmountable problems
We make a choice
That we will not bow out
We continue to enjoy
The beauty of creation
And the eternal truth
We see beyond death
And live for a better tomorrow
This age of turmoil
Is only one age
In an innumerable succession
We see past our present condition
And realize what it is to be human
Our place in this world is brief
Our lives are little
And our reach is small
We need to understand the unity
Of destruction and creation
That the preservation of hope
Is something that exists
Eternally in each of us
In order to realize joy
We have to accept our sorrow
With each attempt
At accepting the endless cycles
Of building up and tearing down
We can look to break free
From this unchangeable reality
In every moment of existence
We need to acknowledge our fate
But not lose site of eternity
And the possibility of escape
To be ok with the endless circles
Of causality and successive events
Doesn’t mean that we are trapped
Forever in this paradox
With one decision
And the power of the Eternal
We can surmount our desires
And live an everlasting life
Without the fears of mortal life

There is always some good
In even the most evil heart
Even the least aware person
Realizes the reality of the spirit
Even the worst ruler
Has to have some sense of right
Or his empire would crumble
Each one of us has experienced
The life of the spirit
If even only for a moment
When we begin to see beyond
Our present desires and lust
For temporal pleasures
We start to accept that we
Are part of a bigger picture
We begin to grasp the universality
Of our spiritual reality
When we do something for others
At the expense of our own comfort
We grow in our understanding
Of the Eternal Spirit
Every moment spent
In the study of truth
Our eyes open to the reality
Of our web of interconnectedness
With that which unites
The entire human spirit
The path we each walk
Has more significance
Than we at first realize
There are realities that matter
That we cannot easily perceive
There is more to life
Than being well fed and clothed
There is a reason for life
Beyond just satisfying our urges
Even a life in perfect balance
Seeks beyond temporality
There is more to existence
Than having a family and a job
We cannot be satisfied
Without understanding truth
And sacrificing for love
We can only know true love
When we give up part of ourselves
The more we give away
The more we gain in wisdom
When we pass to the next life
We will only take with us
Our spiritual self
Our attitude, and our memories
There is nothing permanent
About power or fame
We all die alone
And are only truly
Comforted by companionship
When we begin to learn
Our immortal nature

What is the point
Of giving all that we have
To those in need
This does not earn us
Any spiritual awards
We are the same
As the most cruel dictators
The rejection of the material
Is for ourselves
For the illumination of
Our own spirits
It is important
That we do not
Seek recognition nor honor
For our gifts to others
And give without
Any lasting regret
What we gain in our
Generosity of spirit
Is an easier load
That we must carry
Many think that wealth
Makes life easier
But it makes our
Everlasting inheritance
Harder to hold onto
We cannot accept God
Without denying the world
We make it much harder
To accept God’s charity
When we have too much
It is not the act
That brings us closer
To our Creator
But it is the way
Our heart is transformed
By the relinquishing
Of material riches
People can see your spirit
By your actions
Which speak volumes
That neither the eyes
Nor the ears can comprehend
The physical world
Has direct corespondents
To the spiritual world
What we do in this life
Is reflected in the life to come
The things we do with
Our body not only
Affect our minds
But have spiritual equivalents
The spiritual world
Is more real than the physical
But the two cannot help
Be united and influenced
By the other
Secure now who you serve
By how you spend your money

What you shout at the roof tops
Or advertise on a billboard
Is of no account
When good is done in secret
It pleases our Father in Heaven
You can run ads non stop
During the Super Bowl
Or create a new web 2.0 business
And attract millions of hits
But there is no better way
To convince others
To do the right thing
Than when you whisper
In the privacy of your own home
Giving to others
Can provide you with good PR
That will last a few weeks
But giving of yourself in secret
Will help you overcome yourself
Who is your greatest enemy
There is no better reason to
Do what is right
Than to learn how to submit
To the Father’s will
We do not need a list
Of good works
To gain entrance to Heaven
We do it because
We are grateful for what
Our Father has given us
It is not satisfying to
Have the love of humanity
No matter how many times
You are on the cover of Time
Or how many Nobel Peace prizes
You are awarded
What brings true joy
Is knowing that God has
Invited you to be part of
His plan for His creation
It feels good to do the right thing
Because it furthers God’s plan
It is only fair that God
Gets the credit because
Where would we be without Him?

Why is it so hard to love
Those who hate you
When we have the example
Of our Lord and Savior
As well as His power?
If God was willing to
Descend to the earth
And live as a Man
And to be tortured
And shamed for our sins
Why don’t we find it
In our hearts to accept
When others fail us?
If God can forgive us
And all sin leads to death
And is equally wrong
Why do we think we
Are so much better than
Those we regard as enemies?
We see a corporation
Gamble away our country’s wealth
But we don’t take responsibility
For living beyond our means
We are angry when our job
Is exported overseas
But we are unwilling to
Pay more for our toys
Which would allow others
To keep their jobs
How can we judge criminals
For murdering in anger
When we get just as angry?
How can we feel used
When we are scammed
When we cheat on our taxes?
How can we blame the government
For being wasteful with money
When we are deep in debt?
Just because other people
Sin on a greater scale
Does not justify
Our own hard hearts

I cannot even imagine
A day without prayer
In everything I do
I need Your help
You deserve credit
For all I have accomplished
You were the one
Who made my dreams reality
I work hard to realize
The creations I have made
But the Holy Spirit
Is what inspires me
And bridges between
My effort and the successful
Outcome of my work
When I am lonely
And have little to say
You provide me with
Gentle inspirations
When I lay awake at night
And toss and turn
You provide me
A peace that satisfies
When I am frozen in terror
You bring me back
To the present reality
With each step I take
You are holding my hand
I cannot find a way
To show my gratitude
That is sufficient
I only hope to further
Your will in earth
That it may bring
Glory to You

To be close to God
We must separate from the world
Our Creator loves people
But He cannot accept
The fallen nature of man
For us to have the blood of Christ
Cover our corrupt hearts
Our spirit must overflow with
A quiet sense of awe
Of our Father’s love and mercy
What is of the world
Is fast paced and never peaceful
The world and those of the world
Cannot shut down their desires
For even a moment
With all the activity of commerce
And the noise of industry
The center of worldly wisdom
Is the city and business life
Not all of us can live in a cave
In a remote desert
Or not feel lonely
Far from other people
It is not about physical distance from
Centers of sin and the politics of
Wealth and power
It is about being spiritually removed
From temptation and desire
For most of us, we need to be
In the midst of those who ache
For the freedom of their heart
But we must create for ourselves
A time of quiet and restful
Study of Your word
We need to keep our eyes and ears
From the lust of this world
The pagan values of strength and beauty
Must be far from our hearts
We must seek those rejected
By our leaders and by our system
We must embrace the victims
Of our way of life
We must not take part
In the destruction of God’s creation
But it is hard to take a stand
When we see no change result
From our effort and actions
How do we distance ourselves
From the idols of consumerism
When we live under the rule
Of the empire of desire?
How do we break free
From the cycle of debt and
Keep a healthy mind
When we work for those
Who are part of the problem?
How can we buy what we need
To survive when it comes at
The cost of others’ freedom?

We live in an era
Of overwhelming evil
Every major part of our culture
Is about addiction and bondage
You cannot walk 10 feet
In your own house
Without being bombarded
By messages tempting you to
Get in debt and sell your future
For a moment’s pleasure
We now think we need
Half a dozen electronic gadgets
That didn’t exist 20 years ago
We can afford to buy so much
That our problems are more
About getting rid of our waste
Than about satisfying hunger
We think we are making a difference
If we keep under a certain level
Of energy use and fool ourselves
Into thinking some businesses
Exist to help others
Even our charities are bloated
And ineffective at their goals
We are all experts on how to make
Even more money
We think nothing of spending
More than we have
And expect that we will
Get even more money later on
To pay for our past lifestyle
We have hit the lottery
In energy and can travel and
Send information instantly
But we use our stockpile
To keep from having to walk
A few blocks
Or to indulge in a vacation
We think we have done without
If we give even 2% of our income
To our ineffective charities
The main reason why we give
To charities is to avoid taxes
So our net giving is even lower
Than if we gave nothing at all
We think nothing of voting
For those companies which destroy
Our planet and take our children’s souls
We think if we do not reward
The businesses that contribute to
Our lack of spiritual freedom
We will lose lose our jobs we work
To pay off our debts
For things they convinced us to buy
How can we expect
Other countries to feel our pain
When we don’t change the very system
That got us into this mess?
How can we spread freedom overseas
When we have already sold our souls
For a new electronic device?
Isn’t there a better use of our free time
Than entertaining ourselves and passing time?
Aren’t we responsible for those
Who starve so that we can afford more toys?
When we have most of the world’s wealth
How can we say we cannot afford
To provide for those who have nothing?

To grow up in a world
Governed by commerce
Where technology
Is thought to bring
Happiness and tranquility
Where civilization at its very end
To be taught
That greed is good
And that all charity
Is just a scam
In a world removed
From the natural
An empire of plastic
And metals
A society run by
Electricity and oil
Where progress is seen
As economic growth
In a world where
The food gets there
Just in time
And there is just
Enough room
To turn around
Where violence
Is not even questioned
And we have no problem
With lecturing others
On how to live
When we can’t even
Grow our own food
Or understand how
Our tools are made
There is a little left
To lose when we all
Are so specialized
That only one person
Understands how to
Create the product
That our company sells
That if the machines
Ran out of energy
That we would be
At the mercy of
Nature’s elements

It is good to know
Where your food comes from
And how to repair your clothes
It is good to struggle
To work the soil
It is ok to work on projects
Where you depend only on yourself
You may not be self-sufficient
But to be able to build your
Own tools and fix them as well
Is worth your time to study
To spend your youth
Learning ethics and manners
Can lead to a better life
Understanding your history
Can help you make better decisions
Enhancing your creativity
Can someday save your life
To learn no more than just
What you have to do to
Earn a living is short-sighted
When your civilization is in decline
You need to make the time
To understand why
When the natural world is
Almost all consumed by people
It is high time to find a way
To build it back up
When your are running out of
Resources to run your economy
You better find another way
To get people working again
It is not enough to barely scrape by
You must plan for times of less
When you have extra money
It is time to start saving
And when you have free time
You must continue your education
We cannot all just throw up our hands
And plead ignorance of our situation
We must get moving again
When you are afraid of losing your livelihood
Retraining is the best option
Just because we are living in hard times
Does not give us the excuse to give up
We must retool and relearn
How to survive with less
Let’s not waste time
On drinking and partying
Let’s not continue
To let time pass by
Without learning more
We must shed pounds
And restore our savings
We need to get out of debt
And find the means
To keep our jobs
There is not much time
To think of solutions
And creative ways
To keep spending
We don’t need new solutions
And time wasted in debate
We need to look to the past
Technology is not going to save us
When we cannot afford to
Keep our machines running
This is not the time to tune out
And give up on our system
We need change without
Empty slogans and false promises
We need to restore our
Ability to grow our own food
We need to stop wasting
Our time on playing games
And get to work
There is not time to caste blame
We are all at fault
We need to start repairing roads
And investing in education
We need to learn to do without
Big businesses and big government
We all need to be working
And not trying to live off
The sweat of others
It is not enough to be a piece
Of the machinery
Is is not enough to just
Perform your job correctly
We need to expand our skills
And learn how to work with others
We cannot give in to despair
There is too much work to be done
We cannot distract ourselves
With vacations and unnecessary travel
We need to stay at work
Past our shifts
We need to study after work
We need to expand our repertoire
Food does not grow itself
Without human effort
And tools to not miraculously appear
Without hard work and know-how
Can’t we understand that it is a problem
When we depend on other countries
To grow our food and build our machines?
Is it that hard to live life
As people have for thousands of years?
What is so hard about
Living without modern plumbing?
We can get to work without cars
And go on vacation in state
We need to buck up
And not be troubled when the electricity
Goes down in our city
It is not the end of the world
If we lose the ability to produce computers
There is more to life than iPods and Wiis
If we don’t know how to make it
We cannot depend on it
We need to accept the possibility
That we will not continue to grow our economy
There are natural limits to how many people
Can live on the Earth at any on time
Dying is not the worst things that can happen
We need to accept that we may not live
As long as our parents or grandparents
We need to understand that we can communicate
Without electricity and without cars
It is not useful to worry about
How we will be taken care of
When modern medicine is a thing of the past
We must accept a lower standard of living
We should be thankful
If most of us don’t die off
If we only go back a century in technology
We should consider ourselves lucky
If we still have dependable electricity
Ten years from now
We will not be that bad off

What would it be like
To be one of 100 million farmers
To grow our own food
To really enjoy live music
When it came through town
And to not need exercise
Beyond our regular work
To make our own soap
And to have our tools
Made by the local blacksmith
Water will power our mills
And the wind will carry our ships
There will be no reason
To travel even 50 miles
There will be no corporations
And news will travel slower
There will be less war
Because we cannot afford it
The legal system will rely
On vigilante justice
We will feel safer
With everybody owning a gun
And we will not freak out
When we see a bear
Or run from a cougar
Our dogs will offer the best
Kind of security system available
Everybody will know you
By your first name
Our currency will be gold
And no one will have thought
That banks were a good idea
We will be old at 50
And our children might not know
Our history before the Great Change
But that will be
Because we didn’t want to repeat
The same mistakes
And not because we didn’t
Want to educate them
We will sleep from dusk until dawn
And there will be no night clubs
Everyone will know how
To grow food and knit their clothes
A good investment will not be stock
But a cow or a sheep
The children will work
Alongside their parents
3 generations will live in one house
Everybody will have at least 5 acres of land
We will have our vacations in winter time
Honeymoons will take place a the coast
And no one will be a millionaire
Science as we know it today
Will be unheard of
And we will have no need for pesticides
Plastics will be heirlooms