 |
| Part of the Alluvia Fan in Rocky Mountain National Park - Estes Park, CO |
16 April 2013
Throughout our lives we are taught to love our enemies as we love ourselves. To "[d]o unto others as you would have others do unto you" [Matthew 7:12]. We're taught to lead by example and to show kindness to others in every way that we can. Yet if we look at the world today, there seems a common flaw...there's perpetual conflict. People possess a hatred - fueled mainly by governments and false information - toward countries, groups and people. No one wants to sit down and talk about their problems anymore. No one wants to listen. I believe that most of the people that have such issues are misinformed. There are people who would rather inflict pain and suffering onto others in order to bring them to their level of hurt rather than talking about it. It is this disconnect that I see as a crack in the foundation of humanity in the world today. What we need is a more peaceful understanding between not only our neighbors, but also with all our enemies, international friends and foes. It's vital that we learn to love each other, absolutely vital. We're all we have here on earth. Life is too short for conflict, fighting or tragedy. I can't think of anyone who supports conflict - no one wants to deal with hatred, heartache, or suffering. Strive for peace. Hope for happiness. Pray for change.
Throughout our lives we are taught to love our enemies as we love ourselves. To "[d]o unto others as you would have others do unto you" [Matthew 7:12]. We're taught to lead by example and to show kindness to others in every way that we can. Yet if we look at the world today, there seems a common flaw...there's perpetual conflict. People possess a hatred - fueled mainly by governments and false information - toward countries, groups and people. No one wants to sit down and talk about their problems anymore. No one wants to listen. I believe that most of the people that have such issues are misinformed. There are people who would rather inflict pain and suffering onto others in order to bring them to their level of hurt rather than talking about it. It is this disconnect that I see as a crack in the foundation of humanity in the world today. What we need is a more peaceful understanding between not only our neighbors, but also with all our enemies, international friends and foes. It's vital that we learn to love each other, absolutely vital. We're all we have here on earth. Life is too short for conflict, fighting or tragedy. I can't think of anyone who supports conflict - no one wants to deal with hatred, heartache, or suffering. Strive for peace. Hope for happiness. Pray for change.
 |
| Farmland - Western Nebraska |
Disney's Pocahontas once said "Look around you. This is where the path of hatred has brought us." It's brought us to a place of judgement, fear, solitude and sadness. Which path do we want to choose moving forward? I want to walk down the road of understanding and see the sights of unity. I want to see the good in all people. "For God, who said 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ" [2 Corinthians 4]. I believe we are to share this light with the world, to share God's love and bring comfort to others. In this way, all people can be brought out of darkness. Look around again...See that couple cozied up in the café smiling at one another? Hear the children giggling as their parents push them higher and higher on the swings in the nearby park? Smile at the fact that the old man reading the newspaper next to you still proudly wears his shiny wedding band. Acknowledge the fact that the person you just passed on the sidewalk smiled and asked how you were. Notice how different everyone is from you, then realize how much you're all the same. The desire to laugh and feel loved, the need to smile at a stranger to brighten their day. While there are so many people who care and want to help make the world better, there are equally as many who are determined to do just the opposite. This serves as a sort of challenge throughout everyday life - helping other people to see the world in a wonderful way...the way that it should rightfully be perceived.
 |
| A kitten lays in the skimmer on a hot summer day - Rural Nebraska |
As much as I'd like to believe that the world and its inhabitants are flawless, it's not true. Terrible things happen everywhere, every single day. These things can happen to anyone. People make mistakes and we must learn to forgive them. "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you" [Colossians 3:13]. When tragedy, such as the events of the Boston Marathon, befalls us, it's in that time that people come from all over and unite. All of our backgrounds, personalities, religious beliefs, political affiliations, etc. are put aside for a little while and we manage to become a cohesive unit. People rejoice in the fact that we can have such a close bond; however, no one thinks about continuing this bond after the impact of the tragedy has died out. We come together for a little while and then are separated again by the strains of everyday life. It's inspiring for a little while - to see how far an outstretched hand can reach, the power behind a smile and the kindness behind simple words. The world is a beautiful place - Louis Armstrong even agrees with me. There are so many things in this world - even in your life - to be thankful for and appreciative of. I can only hope that one day there will be peace and understanding among all people on earth...that we will all finally love one another the way that we love our neighbors and ourselves.
*God bless*
