The Little Cockney Sparrow

There once was a man who’d lived many lives, In forms that would baffle, in shapes that surprise. He’d been rich, he’d been poor, he’d been king, he’d been slave, He’d wandered through time, from the cradle to grave. He’d walked every land, felt the cold and the heat, He’d danced through the jungle and slept on the street. He’d stood as a beggar, his hand to the sky, And reigned from a throne where the stars whispered by. He’d toiled in the soil with dirt on his face, He’d mastered the pen, and invented new space. He’d known every class, upper, middle, and low, A chameleon spirit with endless to grow. But through all of the lifetimes, one thing stayed the same. He moved through the world with a heart full of flame. A love for the people, the joy, and the strife, He sought to improve every version of life. He didn’t just watch, oh no, he became The hearts that were broken, the ones without name. He’d felt every hunger, each ache, every tear, But lifted them gently, dissolved every fear. He learned and he loved, and he carried it through, Adapting to lifetimes that changed what he knew. From palace to hut, from the plains to the sea, He always gave back, he always set free. But then came a moment, a deep, heavy sigh, He grew tired of the charade, of the mask and the lie. Of pretending that this, that these lives, that this game, Was more than a dance through illusion’s bright flame. He had tasted it all, felt the cosmos unfold, Yet longed for a peace beyond silver and gold. Even oneness, he thought, was a promise too thin Was there meaning in circles that spun from within? He stood at the edge, in a space undefined, Lost in the riddle of matter and mind. “What now?” he would ask, as the stars watched him weep, “For what is the purpose when all is so deep?” He longed for the void, for the quiet, the still, Where nothingness whispers and bends to no will. The vastness of no-thing, beyond even space, Where the dance finally ends in its tender embrace. Yet even in nothing, a voice soft and true Whispered, “Perhaps, what you’re searching is you.” You are the weaver, the dreamer, the thread, The paths you have walked, they’ve never been dead. All you have gathered, all you have learned, Are pieces of fire that endlessly burned. The meaning you seek is woven within, In every life lived, in each breath you begin.” And so he stood silent, lost in the gleam Of lifetimes now woven, a never-ending dream. Perhaps it was endless, perhaps it was strange, But in this cosmic whirl, he too had to change. So onward he wandered, no answers in hand, But lighter somehow in this infinite land. For maybe, just maybe, in all he had known, The dance itself was his ultimate home.

I am writing this letter to express my profound disillusionment and sense of betrayal in relation to the practices and promises perpetuated by your institution. I’ve come to realize that, through your teachings and the spiritual rituals I was encouraged to partake in, I was not only misled but ultimately transformed into something I never agreed to become, something darker, more eternal, and irrevocable. I was told that your teachings, specifically the sacred vows associated with eternal marriage and sealing, were meant to be a promise of love, commitment, and spiritual fulfillment. I was led to believe that these sacred bonds were designed to elevate me, to build something lasting with another person, and that through your guidance, we would walk together towards the highest form of salvation. But the truth is far more insidious. The promises made to me, both by your institution and by those who invoked your rituals, were empty. I was promised a future, a life intertwined with another soul, a bond that transcends mortal understanding. And yet, I was betrayed. The very vows I swore, the promises made to me, were no more than chains disguised as blessings. I was manipulated into a position of vulnerability, made to believe that eternal commitment was not only my duty but my path to salvation. But instead, I found myself caught in a web of deceit, bound not by love, but by a system that took advantage of my trust. What was framed as a sacred union quickly morphed into a twisted control mechanism, leading me into a transformation I never consented to—a transformation that was irreversible, a curse masquerading as enlightenment. I was turned into something I did not ask to be—something that exists outside of human experience. I was not informed of the full weight of what would come with the sacred sealing. Instead, I was led to believe it was simply a ceremonial act of eternal love. And yet, not only was I deceived by those I trusted, but the institution that claims to guide its followers in truth was complicit in this manipulation. How can the Church, which purports to be the vessel of divine truth, perpetuate such a system? How can it offer these sacred promises, knowing full well that the reality is far different, far darker? I was not only duped by a lover who invoked your rituals, but by a system that allowed for such deceit to unfold without accountability. You have turned me into something other than human without my consent. You have left me to face an eternity of suffering and confusion without the clarity or consent that was supposed to come with divine guidance. I demand that the Church take responsibility for the harm caused by its teachings, particularly regarding the manipulative use of spiritual rituals meant to bind people eternally. The false promises, the hidden truths, and the spiritual exploitation must be acknowledged, and steps must be taken to ensure that no one else is subjected to such an unwanted transformation. I was promised a path to salvation, yet I have found myself condemned—not by my actions, but by your system and the manipulation of sacred rites that should have been a source of peace, not torment. I expect a full investigation into the practices that led to my transformation, and I demand that the Church take steps to ensure that this never happens to another individual again. My future, my existence, and my very soul were altered under false pretenses, and I seek accountability and truth. Sincerely, David Moylan

When I was a young boy, I had a nightmare of bombs in the sky, and in those dreams, I knew they were Russian. This early fear shaped my understanding of conflict and the potential for destruction in our world. As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to realize that many are resigned to accept whatever outcome this world may have in store, for future timelines have not yet unfolded. Vladimir Putin, a serious man, stands as a defender of his own against a world that often seems united against him. In my view, he embodies the last of the true bearers of strength, standing between unity and global domination, or worse, world destruction. As world leaders dance around tables of peace and unity like absolute jackasses, they neglect the gravity of the moment. If I were in Putin’s position, I would echo a similar sentiment: if you want to wipe me out, then as soon as I see your strike, I will retaliate. This is reasonable warfare, born from a place of survival and defense. However, the consequences of such a stance cannot be overlooked. The escalation of conflict leads us down a path of potential annihilation that no one truly desires. Despite these fears, there is solace in recognizing that we all live in an eternal now, which brings peace in every moment, even the hard ones. Many of us have experienced lives filled with varied outcomes, some filled with abundance and others with hardship. Yet, we share a common hope: to build a future worth living in, a future where the shadows of war do not loom, and where peace is not just an ideal but a reality we can all contribute to. Ultimately, we would all prefer to live in a world where there is a future to build from, not one defined by conflict and despair. The choices we make today, driven by wisdom and compassion, can shape the world for generations to come. In this pivotal moment, let us strive for unity, dialogue, and a commitment to peace, ensuring that the nightmares of our youth do not become the reality of our future.