Gaps in Humanity

This poem is dedicated to those people who are in positions of power and consumed by power and position. Those who are working within systems that signal to them that they are superior or that they are in control. It to say to the people in power that you are responsible for your actions, you are equal to all those you work with, and the greatest leader serves. It is not about serving your own ego and making as much money as you can before you die, to be able to have someone say on your tombstone that you were successful. You may find few at your funeral, for when much energy goes into promoting oneself, relationships often suffer as someone has to give. Thus over time, if they are never awakened to the reality, they may discover later in life, the gaps in their humanity.

Compassion changes your life, empathy changes your life, treating people with respect changes your life. So that is what is meant by ‘being the change’ as Gandhi stated. As you live in virtue, it becomes a ripple effect of great respect and power. And this becomes the circle of concern that the business guru Stephen Covey speaks of. Principled Leadership is the new leadership of the future, where the leaders learn the humility of serving and empowerment. Humility is not being meek and mild, it has no ego and has plenty of space to give for the benefit of all, for you don’t need to be the receiver anymore. You are fullfilled. That is the real power of humility.

GAPS IN HUMANITY

He stood before his audience,
Standing tall above his peers,
The façade of confidence,
Cascading from jokes,
Creating a waterfall of feeling,
As admiration and unearned respect,
Inflated his position,
He is untouched,
His tenure is secure,
He is accepted,
He supports the system,
He delivers the information,
Unchallenged as gospel truth,
For academia looks from the roof,
Of civilization,
Of cultivation,
For they are an inner sanctum,
A sanctuary safe and sound,
They hear nothing but their voices,
For the real truth is buried,
Underground.

There is no glass ceiling,
It is a false ceiling,
That one meets,
It is sunny and affable,
Helpful and funny,
Keep the customer returning,
For intelligence is simply parotting,
As he traces the parameters of his job description,
Never going beyond,
Never standing above,
Never questioning what he knows,
Never acting on these notions,
For the nation state can sink into the sea,
As long as he is free,
To drink his café lattés,
Out of paper cups,
He doesn’t care,
His conscience doesn’t see conflict,
Just a pay cheque every week,
For he is no revolutionary,
Just regular work he seeks.

He sees no conflict of interest,
In apathy and survival of the world,
He sees no reason to give to the third world,
He never provides public service,
But service is what he receives,
From those grateful for his sunny smile,
That covers the gaps in his humanity.