Photo: charity.org
“Anticipate charity by preventing poverty.” Maimonides
What Does Love Cost?
What does love for others really cost,
what pain to wash their feet,
to serve and walk in other’s shoes,
and feed the hungry too,
what might that mean?
to give my coat and
be vulnerable, what then?
To forgive, no, really forgive,
how would that feel?
To live with an integrity that
values every form of life,
never seeking gain,
just imagine if we were
careless for the things
that alienate, the machine of empire,
the greed and gorge of living,
if we turned our guns to plough-shares
and plastic into roads,
just imagine what love might cost,
and go and cash the cheque.
©Paul Vincent Cannon
Paul, pvcann.com
parallax 
Yes, I’m keeping this one!
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Thank you so much Susan, a lovely compliment.
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Excellent thought.
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Thank you Sandy.
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Certainly.
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Dreaming again😉
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Absolutely, and trying to make it real 🙂
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I’m with you
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Yes, onwards we go 🙂
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♥️
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Not much love lost in today’s world… 😦
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No, sadly so 😦
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But then there is blogging. 😉
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Yes, a whole different perspective.
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Beautiful, my brother
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Thank you for that Ana.
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🙋
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This is marvelous. The phrase “greed and gorge of living” is so descriptive. Imagine a world that is humble and kind … just imagine!
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Yes, imagine, thank you so much Beverly I appreciate the kindred spirit.
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wonderful message and thoughts shared
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Thank you for sharing that.
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We know this, and yet we can’t seem to see past the “greed and gorge” to what is really important.
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Many thanks Sarah, yes, we never seem to get there in spite of our intelligence and wealth.
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It might help if we could trim off the top 10% with the most and distribute to the bottom 90% but nobody is willing to go there. Your way would take longer and could even work, but we don’t have much time.
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Come the revolution … I despair at the greed and selfishness. Albert Camus once said that we had traded generosity for charity, I think he’s right.
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I do also. And the charity is the bare minimum to keep a person alive…
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Yes, it certainly is the bare minimum, appalling.
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I like the thought of turning plastic into roads.
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Yes, and there’re some trials in Europe that fascinate me, progress in a better way. Thank you Frank.
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If everyone decides to be little kind everyday many of the world’s problem will be solved.
It is just matter of when and how!
Wonderful thought PAul.
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Yes, it really would change, thank you Rupali, very much appreciate your thought.
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Stunning … if only!
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Yes, if only. Lisa is right, if we trimmed the top ten percent ….
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they deserve it … they need to learn to share!
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Come the revolution …
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Truly following in Christ’s footsteps . . .
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Absolutely Liz.
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So good. What would love cost, and why don’t we think we can afford it?
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Exactly, we are so blind sometimes.
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Good question, Paul. I suggest the opportunity cost might be power and those with it are likely to be terrorable losers.
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I can only agree Tracey, I think you’re right.
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Hope not.
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Sadly, it’s human.
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In the words of Sam Cooke … ‘What a wonderful world it would be’
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Yes, great link, thank you Jill, if only ….
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If only…
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Yes, and thank you.
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Hearttouching and so true, Paul! Thank you for remembering.
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If only we all did …
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Pingback: ♫ Wonderful World ♫ | Filosofa's Word
Thank you for the nod, and the association to a great song.
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Pingback: What Does Love Cost – a poem by Paul Vincent Cannon – natshouseblog
Many thanks for that.
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Another dandy poem. Reblogged to Public for other’s enjoyment.
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Thank you so much for doing that Nathaniel, and for sharing your encouraging thoughts.
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
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Thanks very much indeed Charles.
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Always happy to share your words, Paul!!
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Appreciate that.
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Words to restore hope in love. Thank you.
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And thank you for sharing in that hope Astrid, appreciate your words.
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> I love the gospel in this poem – a challenge to us all
>
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Ah, well spotted, thank you Lyn.
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This piece sends a message, Paul, and a very important one!
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Many thanks Eugenia, yes, we need to attend to community as I see it, appreciate your thoughts.
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