Children Of Lights (AUDIO)

To be work for peace in this modern world feels trying to use a toy shovel to dig a new ocean. To work for peace in this modern world feels like the most naive of undertakings. To work for peace in this modern world seems like it has the longest of odds to ever be successful.

But…

Here is to naive longshot peacemakers and their toy shovels. May they save us all from ourselves - and may I have the courage to join them without any fear.

The following audio was recorded at a bustling coffeehouse just down the block from where I live.

we are watching warfare play out on tik-tok
we are live-tweeting during the fall of Rome

we are building our echo chambers on YouTube
we are bloodletting through a camera of a drone

I have never believed that the devil exists
but I no longer have the luxury of being aloof;

as our indifference toward this wheel of hate
for me, has become a convincing article of proof

~ evil isn't always an open, slobbering and screaming mouth
~ evil doesn't always show up at our door looking like a hungry bear

~ evil will often wear an ornate altar robe to hide their sharp sword
~ evil can be a sermon of vengeance that's disguised as a prayer 

~ war is usually the wailing love child of two ancient wars
~ that had a one-night stand under a dripping blood moon

~ revenge is a planet-killing comet that only creates new comets
~ an eye for an eye will leave us all completely blind soon

I don't have any answer to this riddle of violence
I don't know how to avert this slow-motion doomsday

I hope we will start to dig gardens instead of trenches
I am begging that soon we will embrace a gentler way

I can't believe that searching for peace is a fool's errand
I am okay being a cliche of a man wearing Peace Dove tights 

I will keep begging to Creation to thaw this winter of our hate
and to remind us that we forged to become children of lights

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Save the date! I’m so excited to announce that I will be bringing my writing retreat back to the Art of Living Retreat Center in beautiful Boone, NC in August of 2024.

This will be my third time facilitating my retreat at the iconic AOLRC and each time has been a transformative event in my life.

The HeartWrite retreat is an opportunity to embrace the wildness of your narrative, to celebrate imperfections, and to write with unguarded honesty.

As a Poet, writer, and comedian I will guides you through this transformative experience with my signature blend of humor, heartfelt insights, and engaging activities that are meant to help you explore the story inside of you.

My approach to writing is not about crafting a perfect narrative but offering a mirror to the soul, allowing others to see their reflections within your words. Through the art forms of writing and storyteller, this experience peels away the layers of pretense to reveal the raw, untold stories that reside within us all.

HeartWrite is more than just a writing retreat; it’s a journey of discovery and authenticity. Whether you’re a seasoned writer of any kind, a storyteller at heart, or simply someone longing to connect more deeply with your own story, this retreat offers a unique opportunity to write without fear of judgment.

I would love to see you there!

Registration details are below🤠🌻

https://artoflivingretreatcentery.org/event/faculty/john-roedel/the-heartwrite-retreat