The Center of the Universe

The center of the universe is in this small room
where our souls touch the infinite,
and grace surpasses all our understanding.

And the center of the universe is in the nest outside the window
where the tiny speckled eggs are about to hatch
under the watch of attentive parents.

And the center of the universe is held
by the young mother in the bus going past
as she cradles her newborn in her arms and wonders where her future lies.

But the center of the universe is also in the heart of the bomb crater
where bits of bone, and chair, and cup are all that remain.

and the center of the universe is also in the jug of water
carried by the small boy walking past the garbage heap
where his brothers search for their day’s sustenance.

And the center of the universe is also in the quivering salmon
just caught and eaten by the grizzly bear in the cold Alaskan stream.

And the true center of the universe is millions of light years distant
from an insignificant solar system
in an average galaxy that some call the Milky Way.
-Jean Olson