Doors

A meditation on choices

Love and rage dwell

In the same house,

In different rooms.

You have the keys to

Both doors,

And you may enter

Either at any time,

But know this:

One door leads to

Peace, the other

To destruction.

The choice is yours,

But so is the outcome.

Choose wisely.

Choose well.

Author's Note

Choose you this day whom ye will serve.

Reviews

[lightsong]

I think the problem is with how we should control our emotions, when they take the lead and seem to control everything inside us, here comes the problem leading to destruction (of course speaking of the negative emotions).

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, LS. The more emotion that is connected to a thought, the harder is that thought to control.

[Lorry]

A choice we make multiple times each day without giving very much thought to the consequences of our actions. If it turns out we made the wrong choice, our self editing brain simply finds a reason that wasnt our fault and discards it from memory. But we are not computers and if this is all we do, then we become less of oursel and more of a figment of what could have been, forever making excuses and never learninh or improving.
Well written and thought provoking piece, asking the questions we should already be asking ourselves.

[John the Baptist]

Thanks. You are right about people avoiding responsibility for their thoughts and actions. Some people do it habitually, and unfortunately, some of them also hold high office.

[Onlyme]

Wise words John. Great piece of poetry.

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, Dawn. It came to me rather easily, after I stopped trying.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i think Peace is the best option...rage does no one any good...ever.

j.

[John the Baptist]

Thanks, J. Indeed, peace is also my choice. Unfortunately, many seem addicted to rage. And some of them own AR-15's.

[Ellen]

this is simple and yet very powerful. There is a maturity of thought here that speaks to your years of experience in human services. I spent the first ten years of my work life in this field and found it exhausting so I applaud you. You make the point that we may choose our path at any time and that it is indeed up to each of us to choose wisely. We choose but we are also responsible for the outcome. That is the part about freedom of choice that many do not understand. We live with our choices and should be at peace with our choices. Thank you for sharing this lovely poem.

[John the Baptist]

Thanks. Many say they don't have a choice in various aspects of their lives, and in many cases they may be right. But we all have a choice in what we think.