Belong

We all have longings.

Some longings are beyond

our reach; some are graspable.

Buddhist philosophy teaches

that longings are to be surrendered

in order to be happy.

The Army reminds us that

we can become all we're meant

to be.

To 'be' what we are supposed to 'be'

is a basic longing we have.

Part of the answer to our

longing-to-be

is to 'belong.'

To belong is to 'be' with, among,

a part of.

To belong is to have our longing

satisfied.

We who have all fallen short

want to be long.

We all long

    to belong.

Without meaningful relationships

we beshort.

When others open their hearts

to us

and we to them,

they stretch our being,

and we be-long.

To be lonely

is the opposite of

belongly.

To belong

or not to belong—

that is the query.

To be human is to long.

To be fully human

is to belong.

The Buddhist who joins

the Army

will never be happy.

Meditate on this.

But not alone.

Be joined.

Like Adam and Eve—

cleave.