Good morning friends – Happy Valentine’s Day!
Having established that I do know that this is Valentine’s Day, nevertheless, I want to head in a different direction and I hope that you can travel along in your thinking with me.
Today’s headline reads: Chapel Hill Shooting: Was It A Hate Crime?
Killings of three Muslim students in North Carolina widely seen as hate crime after parking dispute cited as cause. I say it was a hate crime. But, it is more complicated than that. Here are my three simple points:
- Could it be just a clear and simple hate crime?
- Or was there a long standing self-hatred and rage within Mr. Hicks which he project outward and we are but witnessing what happens when people do not do their inner work?
- Or was it some combination of both 1 and 2?
I lean towards #3.
Let’s see this as a cautionary tale. What might we be learning here about the power of hatred, anger, rage, fear of others? What is it in us that stirs up so much violence against others who may be different in our culture?
What is the relationships between love and hate?
Should there be an 11th commandment? “Thou shalt not project upon others!”
The Rev. Dr. Alan Jones, former Dean of the Cathedral in San Francisco, spoke at The Chautauqua Institution this summer opening all six of his sermons with these words that have stayed with me. I wondered why he did that?
“Have compassion for everyone you meet even if they don’t want it. What seems conceit, bad manners, or cynicism is always a sign of things no ears have heard, no eyes have seen. You do not know what wars are going on down there where the spirit meets the bone.”
-Taken from THE WAYS WE TOUCH: POEMS (Illinois Poetry Series)Image may be NSFW.
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by Miller Williams
There is no conclusion here. No simple absolute. I would have us all wrestle with this whole matter. Perhaps we really need to take a serious look at compassion. We need to learn to be compassionate with ourselves and with others, especially with others who may be different in some way.
It has been said that learning to love yourself is that ticket home.
What do you think? What is your experience?
“Teach Only Love” there is a profound truth here. The polarization and the deep divisions in our culture today are teaching us to hate one another. Politicians offer “red meat” solutions to their base which only deepens hatred and rage with some. The road rage we witness in our country is another indication of this lack of compassion. The violence against women in our culture is testimony to inner hatred and rage that gets projected outward. Sadly, far too many of you women know how true this is.
History shows us again and again how hatred against others can be ignited and utilized as a political tool. How easy indeed to project one’s inner disturbances upon others. I have only one word to say which we all must remember – HOLOCAUST.
These words come to my mind:
“Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit that we may learn to love.”
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of Glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee,
Op’ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!
Be conscious – have compassion for everyone you meet including yourself.
We are all sparks of the Divine flame
Blessed Be
Compassionate Be
Boldly Be
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
