At Men’s Cafe we have been visiting the 1989 movie Dead Poets Society. In the film we were challenged by this quote.

“We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, “O me! O life!… of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless… of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?” Answer. That you are here – that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play *goes on* and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?”

Over the next few blog post we have guest bloggers who will contribute their verse.

We thank them.

Today’s guest blogger is Toby York.

Fear, life, pain, love, happiness
Life and death intertwined in a mind of questions.

Heaven…

While I believe it exists and strive each day to earn my right…
I don’t care to see it anytime soon.

Love, compassion and dreams keep me alive.
Life is filled with possibilities, experiences and again fears.

What then is failure but experience and opportunity.
Why does it hurt so many and why is the fear of it such a driving force.

Life is lived in passing moments.
Their depth determined by our ability to understand.

I strive to understand.
Myself, others, nature and of course God.

Maybe the best answer IS love.
Deeper love of Him, ourselves and others equals that depth of understanding.

Together we soar above the fears and failures.
We dive deep into understanding and we love to the very depths of life. 

With love compassion is possible.
Compassion for those who hurt us and themselves.

With compassion we walk in others shoes.
And abate our solitary existence. 

Compassion condemns control.
For even He has created free will.

Free will to love, walk, succeed. 
Free will to live, to soar, to understand.

~Toby