“Treat others as you would treat yourself and you will receive justice. Treat others better than you would treat yourself an you will receive mercy,” one formula for love and peace begins. We immediately demand justice for whomever we feel violated by, yet we beg for mercy when found on the reverse end of the situation. In the Holy Bible we read, “The love of God surpasseth all understanding.” This love is evidenced by the mercy (as opposed to justice) administered through His bestowal of blessings on the good and bad, the obedient and the rebellious.
America’s glorification of war, coupled with the maturation of mankind and his constant sophistication of weaponry, has now ripened into potential full-scale “unimaginable horrors” when facing the realization that we can neither turn it off nor walk out of the theatre-–it’s for real! Our attention has also been previously called to the fact that our steady advancement in science and technology is producing more accurately guided missiles and drones–and more misguided men.
I once heard a minister impressively define the word terror as ERROR. We would have to heartily agree when considering the loss of life of multitudes of innocent men, women and children over recent years in particular (including those officially involved) in search of “suspected” terrorists. It was news anchor Dan Rather who once commented, “Revenge is best served cold.”
As we fast approach this year’s annual season of love and peace, may we keep in mind that the Source of all power and peace is Love––first of one’s Creator and subsequently of His creation. To attempt to reverse (or deny) its reality is futile as people continue to become more egotistical and unlovable at earlier ages and stages. The primary source of such degenerative behavior is an attitude of ingratitude- that breeds the destructive elements of resentment and envy.
According to the teachings for this new Day of God, “The family, being a human unit, must be educated according to the rules of sanctity. All the virtues must be taught the (entire) family. The integrity of the family bond must be constantly considered and the rights of the individual members must not be transgressed. The rights of the son, the father, the mother–none of them must be transgressed, none of them must be arbitrary. Just as the son has certain obligations to his father, the father, likewise has certain obligations to his son. The mother, the sister and other members of the household also have their certain prerogatives. All these rights and prerogatives must be conserved, yet the injury of the family (whether individual, local, national or international) must be sustained. The unity of one shall be considered the injury of all; the comfort of each the comfort of all; the honor of one, the honor of all.”
We cannot continue to pray for peace while constantly waging war (for whatever honorable reasons). The virtues that befit mankind’s dignity are forebearance, mercy, compassion and loving kindness toward all the peoples and kindreds of the earth!–(becoming obviously “too small for anything but brotherhood and too dangerous for anything but peace.”)
May we vow this coming holiday “Season of Love and Peace” to place more emphasis on appreciating the people than the things around us (or the tree). The past is behind us; the future is not promised us. Let’s strive to utilize every today more wisely that our “yesterdays may become reflections of happiness and (whatever is left of) our tomorrows all visions of hope. (Investigate! 1-800-22UNITE)
