“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
We seem to be living in a time of such division. People from all sides are trying to gain a larger following to justify their points of view. I so love this statement from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We cannot drive out the hate by more hate and name calling, “only love can do that”.
It is difficult to rise above all of the rhetoric and comments being made but let’s make a genuine effort to do this. Perhaps we could begin by seeing and listening through the eyes and ears of our hearts. How would our hearts respond to this? If someone makes a “seemingly inappropriate comment”, for example, from where did this comment come?
Before we judge any comments that have been made, let us take a moment to walk in their shoes. What in this person’s experience led to those thoughts and/or feelings? Let us get a broader perspective on any issue we are facing. We have all walked through our own life’s journey having many different experiences and beliefs, which have shaped our specific points of view.
We are all unique. It is really amazing that we can agree on anything, let alone everything, which seems to be expected now. Our diversity is one of the most beautiful things about us. Would you enjoy looking at a scenic view if everything looked exactly the same? Would you enjoy listening to a concert with the musicians all playing the same note?
We thrive on seeing nature in the rapture of its glorious colors. We love listening to a concert with the incredible harmony of sounds made by a full orchestra. What would our world be like if we viewed each other as unique and beautiful pieces of a colorful tapestry called life? What if we experienced each other as if we were all making wonderful contributions to the depth, creativity, and wonder of our world.
Let’s follow Dr. Martin Luther King by letting our lights shine forth in the darkness and our love pour out into the space of all hatred. Let us all follow his guidance and choose love.