If I Live in a Different World

If I could only wake up in a different world, where all mornings are captured in pictures like these.

If I could only wake up in a different world,
           where all mornings are captured in pictures like these.
If I could only shut off the noise of corruption and injustice,
          I could spend every day thinking in peace.
If I could only believe that life, sans caring, is perfectly alright,
           then I could learn how to paint and make pictures of beautiful mountains, flowers and trees.

Exclusively.

If only the world numbers differently, one that doesn't rise and fall,
          then  I could cut grass, plant vegetables and feed chicken to the wife's delight.
If only the world be oblivious to my actions and inaction,
          then I could read, learn and laugh all day with students, with the freshness of youth.

What I want is not what I see;
          What I see is not what I want.
What I hear is not what I want to listen to;
          What I feel is not what I yearn for.
What I earned is not what I worked for;
          What I hoped for is not what is.
What is is not what was;
          What was didn't always last.
What I felt last wasn't quite as much
          As what I hoped I'd recall.

Life never ends so I can always start anew.
When I wake to the sound of birds and watch the fresh day's glory
With the hope that one day I can paint beauty
          despite what I hear,
          despite what I see,
          despite what I know.
Because Peace always goes full circle --
He was and He is and He is to come.
I am His; He Is Peace,
I am not of this world --
I have peace.


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"8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is [a]lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, [b]dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."  Phil. 4:8-9, NASB

On an earlier, rainy day.