"JACKALS"
by Bina Benestante

Out of the desert comes the call of the Most High:
In from the ocean
Down from radiant skies -
Out of my lover's eyes
And from a friend's embrace.
There are as many calls, as ears to hear…
If we would only listen.

All men were kinfolk once:
Firstborns under the heavens.
They honored earth and sky,
They heard the radiant voice
In surge and fire, wind and rain.
The sun and moon were consorts, man and wife.
Each revelation, insight or invention,
Was welcomed as a gift from high above.

But vicious jackals rose among us,
Calling themselves shepherds and lords.
Craving control, devouring our souls.
They fed us distrust, fear and strife.
Hatred was sown between Isaac and Ishmael,
Between the crescent moon, the cross, the star,
The black sheep, speckled ones, and white.

Today, we're kept in thorny, barren pastures
Far from the spirit's gushing stream,
We lick polluted trickles off the rocks
And follow our shepherd's every whim.
And yet, if only we could come together,
Between the All of us, the truth will flow.
Because of love for you, Lord, Jehova, Jahwe, Allah
Because of love for your vast skies by night and day.
The cross, the star, the moon,
They are all beacons
And songs of wonder, calling our hearts.

The sheep could scare away the jackals….
If we would only heed the voice,
Mighty like thunder
Soft as morning dew
In every living thing,
And share those pieces of the truth we gathered
And let God truly reign within.

Shema Yisrael, adonai elohenu,
Adonai echad
La illa alla allah akbar

"Since all the world is but a story,
It were well for thee to buy the more enduring story
Than the story that is less enduring."
St. Columba, 6. century

Adaptation of
"A Celtic Prayer" (Anon.)

Light of sun
Radiance of moon
Splendor of fire
Speed of lightning
Swiftness of wind
Depth of sea
Stability of rock
Fertility of earth
Bear witness:

I pray this day for the family of humanity
For Life's strength to steady us,
Life's might to uphold us,
Life's eye to look before us,
Life's ear to hear us,
Life's voice to speak to us,
Life's hand to guide us,
Life's shield to protect us and save us
From the snares of "devils",
From the wiles of corrupt and greedy leaders,
From cruel powers that desire to enslave and oppress us,
From the temptation of vices that corrupt body and soul,
From anyone who would wish parts of us to suffer,
From our greatest enemy: Ourselves.

Love with us, before us, behind us;
Love in us, beneath us, above us;
Love on our right, Love on our left;
Love when we sleep, Love when we wake,
Love in our hearts for everyone we think of;
Love in our mouths for everyone we speak of;
Love in our eyes for everyone we see.

Let it be so.

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