Would you love me less if I voted for a different candidate than you? Would you think of me as dumb, or smart, or 'right on,' or 'way off?' Would you hate me if you knew I had a different view than you about the economy or the border? Abortion? Fracking? Would I be less than you? Beneath you? Not as educated? How would you even know? What would drive you to make that decision about me?
In our current elevated pre-election atmosphere, there is a lot of conditions that make me think that you "would love me less if you knew."
Lately, there has been an increase in division and name calling.
None of it is okay.
As humans, we know that this division is hurting us as a whole. We know this on a deep level. Yet, we get caught up in it.
The division impacts us and drives us to frustration, judgement and (sadly) hatred.
Hate causes pain. It is painful for those being 'hated' as much as for the hater.
If you are finding yourself judging and hating right now, know that it will have a psychological toll on you. All that negative thought, and fear can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and depression (for both the hater and the victim).
Martin Luther King, Jr. said that hate is just as injurious to the hater as it is to the hated.
Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Many of our inner conflicts are rooted in hate. Hate is too great a burden to bear.
"Let's not love each other less.
Please, I invite you to love more—
to remember each person's humanity,
to make space for differences,
and to seek peace."
A Scripture Share
In Scripture, the story of the good Samaritan illustrates that to love your neighbor is to see their humanity, their struggles, their hurts, and to take action to remedy the harm regardless of your role in the actual perpetration of the harm. 1 John 3:18
An Important Mantra
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu or लोका: समस्ता: सुखिनो भवन्तु is a Sanskrit mantra which means:
“May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.”
