Understanding

What does it mean to understand? How do you know when you understand someone, or something?

You see,

it’s one thing to go somewhere

and hear what the people are saying;

but it’s something completely different

to actually understand what the implications are.

I mean, this generation, as much as we talk,

as much as we say we want to make an impact,

we rarely complete the first step of closing 

our mouths and opening our minds;

Or, we make some half-a*s effort,

and allow our mouths to close,

but refuse to open ourselves,

to open our hearts,

to listen, and understand

fully. 

****

Think back to the last time 

someone told you something heavy,

and you responded with

some seemingly deep phrase

to try and aid in the processing of their thoughts.

Did you respond for the sake of

saying you helped?

Or did you go beyond the words,

become like Alice, and dive deep

into the rabbit hole,

in search of some 

meaning and connection?

****

Did you hear the cries of the

Fearful & abused?

Or did you only manage 

to pick up the shattered glass pieces

of their everything’s fine ?

Did you internalize and digest

the frustration and suffering 

of the less fortunate & struggling?

Or did you only take a bite,

chew it up, and spit it out

by offering a few bucks

here and there?

Did you grasp and latch 

on to the fact that social injustice

comes in many shapes and sizes?

Or did you let your grip slip,

and let societal assumptions

lead your morality and consciousness?

****

So while you let that marinate,

I encourage you take a step back,

take it all in, and chase

after those deeper meanings;

question what’s presented to you,

and at the end of it all,

come to a holistic understanding

of the present situation before you. 

© Prophet in The Making, 2017