Seismic Shift

I used to believe that right was right
And wrong was wrong
And what I knew was right, was right.
And what I knew was wrong, was wrong.

Ah, life, you have shaken me
From my entrenched throne of smug knowing.
I try to crawl back and take the
familiar seat.
But it doesn’t feel the same,
And offers no comfort.

I believed in The Brady Bunch,
And an attainable upper class life.
I believed in helping others,
From my above-mentioned throne.
I believed my country was right just because,
and all others were to be pitied for not being us.
I believed in freedom and hated prejudice,
And thought anybody could make it if they just tried hard enough.
I believed I understood the problems of the vulnerable,
and wished they could just get over being victims so they could be productive.

I was loving and wanted to serve,
Especially if it could be from my throne.
Ah, life you have shaken me.

I am not so sure what to believe anymore.
But I do know,
A white upper class life would be great,
If it wasn’t at the expense of so many who aren't white or upperclass.
And I do know,
That helping others is vital in order to heal myself,
but alongside, not from above.
And I still love my country,
But know we make mistakes.
Freedom is still absolutely something to fight for,
But I know that people can be imprisoned in many ways.
And I think the vulnerable don’t need me
To shame them or tell them about themselves.

Ah life, you have shaken me.

Thank you for the seismic shift.
It hurts like hell,
But I needed to be thrown from that seat of self-righteousness.
And to be reminded that Jesus said, “Love your neighbor”,
not “Judge your neighbor so you can feel good about yourself” 
or “Help your neighbor so you can know you are a good person”.
I needed to be reminded that God’s love is right and
His justice is right
and that any beliefs I have about others and this world
not based on love and justice were wrong.