Every week I usually forget most of the basics:
a) you are loved. b) life is absurd. c) it’s hard to be a human.

—Kate Bowler

•••

Why is this so difficult to etch
into your consciousness? Because
you find it hard to believe that

You are loved simply because
you are? For no good reason?
Yes, indeedy, nutty as it sounds,

You are loved (always and
forever, and well worth
repeating, the love).

And given one ridiculous act
after another, well, yes,
life is absurd. It helps if you

can shake your head in
amazement and chuckle
a little, rather than mire

yourself in misery. And
sure, it’s hard to be human.
We are big, doofus-y,

two-footed creatures who
forget the basics, who think
it’s all about us, when, really,

it’s best to step outside more
than we do and notice the slant
of light coming into your

wee part of the world.
That’s your light, dear human
beloved on this earth,

yours to share and shine into
this wacky, absurd, sometimes
painful, precious life,

yours to notice and, in those
moments when you remember,
to cherish as long as breath

and so much more is yours.

•••

With thanks to Kate Bowler for the inspiration.