It’s easy to feel powerless, frustrated, and even depressed by the news from day to day. To wonder what we can do - because we are truly powerless in the context of world events and those with the power often have less than we might think as they work within the shifting sands of clashing needs, old grievances, and differing agendas. There things we can do but they feel inadequate and effective change takes so long.
I have come to the conclusion that we can each do whatever our time, gifts allow and, to use a religious expression, what we feel ‘called’. Our purpose in life. That both cannot ever be enough and also has to be enough - it is all we can do. I am reminded of the Heaney poem. Digging, in which he talks of how his father and grandfather worked the soil and how he has ‘no spade to follow men like them’. What he does have, ‘between my finger and my thumb’ is a ‘squat pen’. ‘I’ll dig with that’ he. concludes.
Applying the same logic to world events, I came up with the lines below.
The writer Politicians talk of growth progress reform Campaigners demand justice Autocrats hang on to power Old wounds produce murder invasions war crimes Sides are taken people suffer go hungry lose homes flee are abused What can I do? I pick up my pen sit at the keyboard produce words explore the recesses of the world’s mind - tell stories
Thank you Tony...you understand my motivation so well..and so beautifully said