"Am I wise?" you ask.

If you talk too long or loudly,
    likely not.
If you have more answers than questions,
    likely not.
If you seek illumination from without,
    likely not.
If you dance self-consciously and without abandon…
        or not at all,
    likely not.
If you arrive at the edge of yet another cliff
        and hesitate before jumping,
    likely not.
If it's still possible to distinguish between us and them,
    likely not.
If you believe you, your people, your culture,
        your church or your nation
        is special, better, exceptional,
    likely not.
If you continue to maintain strong and final opinions,
    likely not.
If you possess more stuff than compassion,
    likely not.
If you think you're done, complete, self-made,
    likely not.

If you embrace both the world's deep sorrow
      and its astonishing, bright joy,
    then maybe–
    just maybe–
you are.

Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.