The Broken and The Holy

Yesterday I got a case
of food poisoning.
I did not go to the hospital.
I waited it out
hoping the wave of sickness
would leave.

I decided to try sleeping
but was only able to
stare across the bedroom
watch the clock
and send a few prayers
to God.

About 1 am, still awake
knowing I was not going
to sleep
I got up to
catch up on email messages.

Before an hour has passed
I felt almost normal
and returned to bed.
I fell asleep for
eight hours.

When I got up
and drank enough coffee
to check my emails
I had received a message from
a man I have never met in person
in another state.
He said he had gotten up
early this morning
and prayed for me.
He did not give a reason
other than he felt
a need to send prayers my way.

Bill, if you are reading this
on Facebook
this poem is for you.

Seems to be a lot of breakups
in relationships these days.

I believe it may be
we don’t recognize the signals
of toxic individuals.

Should we expect each person we meet
to peal off their masks
and show “their real self?”
No, the other person
is too busy trying to charm you
to gain whatever he or she wants
This may be your money,
your property
even your body.

What are we to do?

How about:

1) Getting to know who this person
associates with. Do their friends use drugs?
2) Find out how others were treated in
past relationships.
3) Wait a year before getting seriously
involved so you can see all sides
of the person.
4) Hangout and get to know many people.
There are some pretty nice people
out there if we look.
5) Realize the “crazy people” in your life
don’t need to stay in your life.
Spend little or no time with them,
but be kind.
6) Once anyone becomes disrespectful
become unapproachable to them.
Don’t reply. Don’t text.
Block them from Facebook.
7) If you are called a name, or pushed.
feel controlled, or are being told
what you can and can not do,
it’s time to listen to the signals
you are receiving.
Run, don’t walk. Don’t communicate.
Don’t try to make it work.

Try these beginning today.
You will thank me
later.