Zero, the label says zero calories,
With plenty of chemicals acting like
Natural flavors,
Each tasting like nothing
Which is exactly where I’m supposedly going
After an inquiry into my spiritual foibles.

It seems I’m going nowhere
After not being fully committed to the ideas
Taught to me in my youth and
Following my observation of a ceremony
Bringing a child into adulthood
From right to left as it were.

Two faiths, both promising something extra,
Neither able to provide any evidence
Other than biblical promissory notes of an afterlife;
If only a heathen like myself could just believe.
I’m just not sure what to believe in,
Some are put off by that.

Take the bat mitzvah, for example,
My friend’s daughter, as I see it,
Denied the low expectations placed upon her
To rise up and demonstrate the greatness
Inherent within all of us when we exorcize the demons of mediocrity.
This was her achievement and not due to the graciousness of a mystical entity.

She did what she did because of her,
Not her parents, not the rabbi, not prayers, nothing but
Her.
She will continue to grow,
She will continue to experience her greatness, and
Whatever comes of the end, she will go there.

I believe the same for me,
I get where I get because,
Not because of blind allegiance to a god,
The Tao inspires me, stories from Buddha, Old and New Testaments,
Each having their role for me, none to be accepted without question.
No, I get wherever just because…that’s what I believe.

Maybe that will leave me in limbo,
Maybe Hell, shit, I’ve done enough stupid stuff worthy of either,
But I don’t really think those are real
Any more than the ultimate gated community in the sky.
Could it be that I’m just a “moment dude,”
Here for a while and then a renewable resource for the next journey?

Too Buddhist?
Too Taoist?
I don’t know,
I’m just sitting here listening to Bruce sing about going down,
Drinking a nutrient-enhanced beverage
And wondering if we’ll play today.