Mattie Stepanek

[Anthem]

For Our World...

We need to stop.
Just stop.
Stop for a moment
Before anybody
Says or does anything
That may hurt anyone else.
We need to be silent.
Just silent.
Silent for a moment
Before we forever lose
The blessing of songs
That grow in our hearts.
We need to notice.
Just notice.
Notice for a moment
Before the future slips away
Into ashes and dust of humility.
Stop, be silent, and notice
In so many ways, we are the same.
Our differences are unique treasures.
We have, we are, a mosaic of gifts
To nurture, to offer, to accept.
We need to be.
Just be.
Be for a moment Kind and gentle, innocent and trusting,
Like children and lambs,
Never judging or vengeful
Like the judging and vengeful.
And now, let us pray,
Differently, yet together,
Before there is no earth, no life,
No chance for peace.

September 12, 2001
) Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek -11 years old at this time

Here is a great link to some selected poems by a child named Mattie Stepanek, who started writing illuminated poetry at the age of 3. He has since passed away and despite his young age and short life seems to have possessed Buddha-like wisdom.

http://www.oprah.com/spiritself/insp/psp/ss_insp_psp_mattie.jhtml

This next link is to selected quotes from Mattie Stepenek, also found on the above page. Yo may have to allow pop-ups to see this one.

javascript:showSmallPop('/spiritself/insp/psp/slide/20021015/ss_insp_psp_mattie_01.jhtml');

This last link is to his home page if you are interested:

http://www.mattieonline.com/