Parable of the Sower

by Octavia E. Butler

When apparent stability disintegrates, As it must— God is Change— People tend to give in To fear and depression, To need and greed. When no influence is strong enough To unify people They divide. They struggle, One against one, Group against group, For survival, position, power. They remember old hates and generate new ones, They create chaos and nurture it. They kill and kill and kill, Until they are exhausted and destroyed, Until they are conquered by outside forces, Or until one of them becomes A leader Most will follow, Or a tyrant Most fear.

We’ll adapt. We’ll have to. God is Change. Strange how much it helps me to remember that.

In order to rise From its own ashes A phoenix First Must Burn.