If you were God for a day, would you
make all that’s bad and evil cease --
have only good and all that’s wonderful? Then, how
in this monochromatic world would we find
surcease from the bright light
of the day? The shadows from the dark green trees,
the colored sky darkening as we greet
the peace of the night. How would we know
the power of Love, how would it stand out?
If I were God for a day, I would
create seeds holding love and greatness
and plant them far and wide, but most of all --
I would plant them inside of everyone. Let them
decide if they would water and tend to themselves
and celebrate the harvest of others. Set humanity
free to choose:my Love to water their spirit, seek
another way, or just refuse to believe. I would leave
the possibility of their own greatness available to them.
Everyday, when we choose to create with love, are we not
God for that day?
Thomas Burson
5/5/02
Author notes
This came to me in Silent Meeting. I am a Quaker. I rose in Meeting and shared it. Then, I went home and wrote it down.
Written May 5th, 2002
In a list
- Inside of me • next in list
- spiritual • next in list
- If I had done as I was told, look at what I would have missed • next in list
What did you think
Comments
1 - 31 of 31
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If i were god for the day i would erradicate all desease and suffering and all evil, i would also get rid of money and all the hell that it brings with it. That way love would be free to blossom and colonise the earth in all of us and join us with everything that we are part of in the universe
Great write Tom, words like these set my spirit free whicgh i believe it should be
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I have looked at all that. I am never sure how much control we can exert as a God and still keep the actions of our creation meaningful. control is insidious even when it professess to be for the good. I have learned a great deal about how suffering is of my own creation. In the face of thngs called iredeemable I have found enlightenment and been raised. So I just don't know. But the thoughts are good and give me much to muse. Thank you.
May your day be blessed with discovery and joy.
Love, Tom B.
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I've not heard anyone apart from Macbeth use the word 'surcease' before! An extremely vivid and spiritual write which is definitely inspirational. Just the type of write I'm glad I've read shortly before I go off to bed! Thanks as ever for sharing.
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Well, I am sure that my reading found surcease else where. I have read alot of Shakespeare but not to any great depth. I am glad you enjoyed this one. It is a good introduction to my sense of spirituality.
Love, Tom B.
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Congratulations on writing this Tom. Sometimes if we had the power of God we could do a lot of good things. Nice spiritual work !!
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There is always the question of freewill versus paternalism and how much would you allow your flock to deny you. The question for most of us isn't in the story of Job but truly in Jonah and the whale. Perhaps most of all in the miracle of the rose as Jonah condemns God for forgiving the city.
Love, Tom B. -
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You are so right in these comments of yours Tom. THANKS for sharing your insight!
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Firstly hello from emirates airlines above in the blue on route...this speaks to me of two hearts that maybe can share together to create something beautiful out of nothing, it takes two to become one in all things created for the greater good of nature and mankind, it is easier if we all loed God but it never happens quite that easily.
Love, C
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There is an old Christian belief that one of the sacraments necessary for us to be complete was marriage. It was the sacred act of completing the circle. It was becomeing one. We in our egocentric thinking believe it is all about us. *shrug* The budhist's say that suffering is created by our aquisitive side. Castenada's Don Juan says it is because we care too much about what others think that makes us give up all of our power. We are too dependant on our look good. All creativity when something new is brought forth is about reaching into nothing to bring forth something.
Love Tom B.
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very touching
i am a catholic and i will definetly be thinking about this next time i get bored in church/maths class/something else i could get bored in. I loved every word. very philosophical and deep, and i wouldn't change a thing.
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We all can share from our similarities to celebrate our differences. Thanks for all of your kind thoughts. This is just one of those gifts given to me. Love, Tom B.
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Inspiring thought, but it just wouldn't work. For those that have and are meant to kill others it would never change anything. From the time we are concieved, out paths have already been chosen. The imprint to life is there. Nature vs. Nurture oldest argument besides the chicken and the egg. Good write. ~Sie
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This was just a share in Meeting. It was to cause reflection. Nature vs. Nurture. I don't think it is versus. It is instead how the two interact, co-operate. One person can hear a critical comment and be spurred to a higher level of excellence. Another will use it for a reason to quit. My father's emotional abuse prevented my personality and character from readily expressing itself. But now I am more me than ever before. Interactions, give and take, we are not static. We are a constant interaction. Dynamic. Enough I am starting to preach. Love Tom B.
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wow...am in awe of this pondering and thought provoking piece...what a question but more importantly...the answer...we are given free will in this life by God to do with it what we may...we can choose the right course of action and demonstrate love or we can choose the wrong course and make God sad...its a test of faith really..walking the walk...not just talking the talk...thanks for this!!! Magnificent...
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We are always creating our life. We forget this because, I think, the idea is overwhelming. We blame others for not getting our way or ourselves for not haveing a certain result. But that is all rain, we have no control over it. How we be and who we are in the face of the obstacles and successes in our life is what we create. How we mangage and maintain our word, how we greet the universe and the people in it -- our attitude -- all this and more is ours to create and build with. Take it on. Life is incredible unless you choose to make it the pits. Love Tom B.
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To tell me I am an inspiration is to gift me. I can only say thank you. We do what we can to gain clarity. We create peace. Otherwise we will never grow past the battles that live in us. Politics is a reflection of our current maturity. We have not matured only changed and exchanged childish behaviors. "To know" used to mean "to have an experience of." We can never have more knowledge of God than God we have grown up enough to see, we do not need to seek more information as much as increase our experience. Then we know and in knowing have everything. Again my heart felt thanks. Love, Tom B.
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I think God was most creative in making dark and light, good and bad, happy/sad...for without these contrast surly I would be pitched into boredom, and want to die. There is nothing without the other. I am grateful to the Creator that He gave us freewill and the opportunity to choose what it is we most desire, even when it is not best for us. When we have wronged or behaved unjustly we should learn lessons. Your poem is truly another inspiration for me dear friend and brother. God makes no errors. He is right all of the time and could have done nothing greater or less than what is at hand. Brilliant musing! You too have given me something to meditate on as I prepare to rest. Thank you!
Much Love Always ♥
Renee
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I am blown away by this piece. You are really able to portray your beliefs and this is incrediable how you were able to stand up and share it at your meetings. Excellent work, I really did enjoy this.
Take Care,
x patientgrace x
Jasmine
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A+
I have been blown away by the power behind this piece. I love how you interpreted everything. If all darkness was abolished, we would not know of what love was, and I am sure that everything would be taken for granted. Even with darkness, we take things for granted...but not as much. I think it would be a problem if the intervals of dark and light ceased to prevail...and only one existed. You made this a philosophical read. You questioned the almighty. His strength is through love, so he might just flow through our veins...make us hold is power, when we express such an 'emotion(much more than an emotion...the term is used broadly)'. Keep up the great work!
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Interesting question? But are we not all God for each day because we do His will for him. Through us He accomplishes things He wants us to do. Admitedly, we may chose not to do His will, and that is where the problems arises. Liked this verse.
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That's the point. We can only follow God's master plan. I am always suprised that I am suggesting something that God has not already done. I just am using a metaphor to point it out. smile Tom B.
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Ok, this did have a contradiction in it, If you would take away evil, and there was no sin, and Yes it is always a choice, wouldnt the ones who didn't believe in you turn against you? This was a good poem, Honestly, I wouldnt ever want to be God, I would mess this world up, seriously, I am human so If I was God I would look at it from a humans point of view and Miss a plan, and mess everything up. All you say you would do if you where God, God has done and is doing. Yes love is the greatest gift, but to hold love wouldnt make us God, It would make us close to God.
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Love is an action, correct. People hold back their love, like it is a quanity. Love only becomes real when it is put into action. This is why I say, Love only shows up in the sharing. Love, Tom B.
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I am so glad I stopped on you page tonight to read this. Love is the difinitive creative force. Anything unlike it is temporal. So power is in that loving force, for growth, for blessing, for life. I do think that power is available to all of us, too. Being aware is everything. I saw a quote once that read: "Love is a verb. It makes things grow." So seeds are a wonderful analogy.
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This is one to really get you thinking. Yes, I think most people would like to wish for all things good and perfect, but as you wisely pointed out...what a "monochromatic world" we would live. If we didn't have ugliness, we wouldn't hold the beautiful things quite so dearly. In fact we wouldn't even recognize beauty at all. But, thank goodness I can recognize it, and do in this wonderful write! --Karen
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At first when I had read the first line Ithough it was goign to be witty but I see now that it was full with deep emotion and understanding. I loved it alot I think that this was very well done adn that it really didn't need a meter to be great.
God Bless,
Russ` -
Melanie, the choice is always before us. If we listen for that small still voice within us, center ourselves in God's love -- focus on that of God in others and speak to it -- then, we can lead a life of grace. We are always responsible for our choices, just not always responsible in our choosing. Love, Tom B.
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The whole idea of Christs sermon is the idea that we carry good within us. Through Faith our actions will be in line, as much as humanly possible, with Gods. We are always free to choose. We need to be willing to be responsible in our choices. Love, Tom B.
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This was touching.. and how true are these words. If we live through God, then we are the image of Him.I like how you creatively stated planting seeds of love within everyone... As did God, right? I mean , none of us were born evil.. it is a choice, that is often made in times of weakness. Freewill... it is that thin line between right and wrong, or good and evil. I love this... makes the mind ponder.
Melanie
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A very good poem, Tom. A lot of our best inspiration comes to us when we're not expecting it and or through spiritual channels.
You've written a very thoughful and interesting poem, a thinker...what would each of us do if we could be God for a day?? That's something I'd have to think long and hard about.
Good luck in the contest
Dee
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Very great poem! I love it! I love the question that kept coming up about becoming God for a day. Makes the reader think, then you go onto say what you would do. Then, the very end, you have an interesting, yet true point. Very great job in presenting this point. Technically, kind of a prewrite, but whatever. I don't really care cause this is really good. Keep up the great work!
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