[This is a poem inspired by Spirit, albeit one whose structure was borrowed from another. I’m no poet, but I like how this turned out. — Rob]
As so often happens, I was quietly contemplating spiritual concepts when the poem, “Do It Anyway,” came to mind, and I questioned what that would look like if focused on the 13 Diving Qualities / Blessings and Virtues [1]. To remind you, the poem, “Do It Anyway,” was written by Kent M. Keith, but popularized by Mother Teresa (most often remembered by the one stanza, “The good you do today will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.”)
So for me, holding fast to the 13 Blessings and Virtues in a chaotic world would look something like this:
The world may pressure you to make hasty and easy decisions. — Be prudent anyway.
The world may convince you to disregard the plight of others. — Be compassionate anyway.
The world may encourage you to give up. — Stand in fortitude anyway.
The world may seem hopeless. — Keep hope alive anyway.
The world may reward the ego-centric. — Express humility anyway.
The world may encourage you to be greedy. — Be charitable anyway.
The world may entice you with the morally wrong. — Be pure anyway.
The world may advocate for the unbelievable. — Hold to the truth anyway.
The world may present you many plausible stories. — Apply your wisdom anyway.
The world may seem entirely mundane. — Hold a sense of awe anyway.
The world may show you ugliness. — See the beauty anyway.
The world may make happiness seem elusive. — Find the joy anyway.
The world may look to keep you down. — Allow Heaven to show you grace.
The 13 Blessings and Virtues are the waypoints of Nova Earth, so I hope this serves as an inspirational roadmap to help you find peace in these seemingly chaotic times. In spite of outward appearances, we’re on the doorstep of realizing the promises of a new world, and with a dedicated focus on what truly matters, we will surely find our way there … together.
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[1] The Council of Love defines the 13 Divine Qualities / Blessings & Virtues as: Prudence, Compassion, Fortitude, Hope, Humility, Charity, Purity, Truth, Wisdom, Awe, Beauty, Joy, and Grace.