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("Citadel of Light Merit Badge" #67, 2016, original pen and ink)

Gratitude

The first noble truth of this world
is that life is full of suffering
- even when we think it’s pleasurable – 
and in one form or another it's simply part of living.

But that doesn’t mean we’re trapped in it,
there are other noble truths after all…
but it helps to know suffering is a given
and take our lives forward from there.

The question then becomes 
what is the best path
and the answer is different for each of us
at different points of our life.

Sometimes we don’t see so well what lies ahead
where our actions and intentions lead
what the fruit of it all will be	
and so we choose poorly.

It’s easy to take the easy way out
in the face of suffering and hardship
that’s the path of resentment and envy
the slippery slope that leads us down.

Gratitude is the antidote of course
but it’s not so easy
yet it can begin at any time
even in the midst of suffering.

It’s not like gratitude will remove our suffering
although it may at times
it’s more like it can elevate it
into something meaningful even transcendent.

No matter where we are,
at rock bottom or peak
it’s possible to appreciate that life itself is the biggest gift
and gratitude always the appropriate response.

(12/3/23)

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