There is still hope

 

In this wild west gold rush of the present age

Hidden within the folds of duplicity is a jungle of accomplished liars

Where governments are corrupt and the rich by stealth cheat the poor

I came acorss a cameo of hope, it was a blessed moment

From thoughts shrouded in darkness I was invited into a glimmer of hope

A dozen young men sat in the front pew of an Italian church

In the shadow of a crucifix

They were the participants of a vesting ceremony

A rite of passage to become mendicant monks

Called by the example of Saint Francis of Asissi

To live a life of humiity in poverty, obedience and chastity

One of the men in his early twenties with a black bushy beard

took his solemn vows with great sincerity, vows for the rest of his life

He returned to his seat with his head bowed in prayer

Then I saw his tears as they rolled down his cheeks

I was overcome with such love for his devout act of personal courage

I too was drawn to tears too heavy to bear

In this world so distorted and damaged by us

A few had chosed another and better way

A life of service for others of self sacrifice

My heart was filled with joy and hope

All was not lost