joy

Fear into Hope; Hate into Joy

Life is fraught. Not like it was, now it’s more fragile and anxious. The public square is a place of fear and alienation. It appears that there is a vast army arrayed against us and we need to prevail.

Hidden in the mist is the message that a change is near. Things are going to change; we’ll be on top and our enemies will be washed away. Many of the holy books seem to talk of it. Although the words change, the outcome is the same. We’ll be avenged against the rest and our suffering will be replaced by eternal joy.

All of these stories are based in “Dethism,” the belief that the others should die and that their destruction, debasement and dissolution are justified. Their elimination is desirable because it satiates our grievances and it is expected to alleviate our suffering. Accelerating a prophesied apocalypse is a transaction with God: that if we stay faithful, He will reward us in the end.

Sacrifice is not a common word in modern political vocabularies. Often the thought is, rather, by giving, one will receive a benefit from the transaction. A transaction is a sorry way to interact with someone you care about. You don’t give your child a hug to get something in return. “Honey I’m home!” is an expression of love and enthusiasm for a special relationship; not an expectation of a reward. Expecting God to act a certain way based on one’s own righteousness is an attempt to activate a transaction with the Uncontrollable, to trammel Him in so He will satiate those desires more quickly.

Making another happy without hope of return can release an enduring joy. One’s own strength and humanity can abide against the ones who are plotting how to produce the dethist future they imagine. Dethists are moving toward their own lamentable exercise of power. They don’t have the thought that one can offer devotion to a stranger and that their devotion will raise them both up.

If fear is all they have to offer, I can combat it with dogged joy. Joy can outlast the attitudes of enmity, alienation and division. One of the powers of such love is that it does not ask for something in return.

Walk into a future with hope that is stronger than fear. Offer joy that is elevated above the hatred.

An open letter to Jimmy Carter

I wish a falling star
would light that perfect candle.
Its wick would consume the darkness
and its fragrance perfume the night.

Faith does not regret its weakness
because its firm foundation is hope.
Our horizons are lighted by its joy
and its love glows all around us.

Each war must end one day
despite their evil power.
If rulers bare their steely eyes,
let our light blind their stare.

The swords of love and faith
can cut them from the story.
They should have no page to find
when history’s book is seen.

We have the tools to light that candle.
We have the pens to write the story.
We have love.
We have faith.
We have joy.
We have hope.

Dear Jimmy Carter,

Although the world loves its money and power, I believe the prayers of a child are a better guide. When they sing, they have no fear. When they hope, how can we explain the hate?

The boy from Cyprus can love a girl from Bogota. The child in Zanzibar could kiss the elders of Harbin.

To find a new world is all they ask: A world where children cry out of love and compassion and not sorrow or fear. It is a world that we can give them. Let no one take it away.

May God bless you this day!

Curiosity Smashes Hate

Just as Trust can cover Fear, in the spiritual game of rock paper scissors, Curiosity smashes Hate.

I was thinking about the cliche of love being the opposite of hate, and that seems silly. Why is there the expression of a love-hate relationship if they can destroy each other?A boy looking at a rock through a magnifying glass

If you hate someone, you want them to be out of your life. You don’t want to think about them, you don’t want to know how they’re feeling. It doesn’t bother you in the least that they had a bad day at work or a good game of golf.

If you are curious about someone, you want to know more. You may disagree, like I disagree with my friends that are pro 2nd amendment. But, if I’m curious I can ask to understand what that actually means to them. I can find the reason that it’s important. I can’t hate them for anything if I’m willing to ask them what the 2nd amendment means to them on a personal level.

Another way Curiosity smashes Hate is that it is respectful which builds trust. The triad that starts with Trust and Curiosity support each other.

Someone you hate, you’re likely to fear. Someone you are curious about, you can accept when they’re honest and it becomes a trust building exercise. With that trust, building curiosity is more successful.

Curiosity is different than inquisitiveness. Inquisitive wants to figure something out. It is limited and only has certain goals. Inquisitiveness can be mocking or insincere. If you’re curious, you truly want to learn something about the person.

I talked to a friend last night and learned a lot of interesting things. She shared with me some stuff and as our trust built, I shared some stuff that she was curious about and I was fearful of sharing with anyone for it being misused. But, as our trust built, the curiosity was rewarded and we talked about things I’d never shared before.

Hate is destructive and black. Curiosity is like shining a flashlight in cave: there’s always more to see. There’s always the next surprise to find. Children are curious, children don’t hate until they are corrupted by others.

Curiosity can become a game and lead to all sorts of joy… a sort of communion between two people so that they can see each other’s humanity and be refreshed by the life spirit within each of them.

Original image: rock hound. By woodleywonderworks [Image license]