A slogan associated primarily with Jesse Jackson is “Keep Hope Alive! But it doesn’t seem to get any easier, especially as you get older with those things (and people) forming the primary base of that hope and security steadily passing away. Couple this with the ceaseless agitation and constant deliberate words and actions of those at home and abroad who stop at nothing in their persistence in keeping hate alive.
Whether by accident or by well-calculated design, more people of good will are breaking under the perpetual pressures and constant instigation of rage, brutality and other societal infractions that tend to push one over the proverbial edge.
The fact that love is stronger than hate is an undeniable reality. Yet it seems that the more appropriate slogan is “All is fare in love and war,” as if placing the two on an even scale when dynasties are threatened. This results in the absence of knowledge of what “real love” is. Such state allows the flames of hate to be easily kindled and fanned still easier by the winds of prejudice (of all kinds), ignorance and fear all based in selfishness and EGO (Edging God Out).
A recent survey supports that “what some are calling the Great Decline of religion in America continues. Since 2012 the US has about 7.5-million more Americans who are no longer active in religion.” The 2014 General Social Survey (GSS) was released earlier this month. If, “In the beginning God…” (However or Whoever you perceive It) and God is Love. How can any creation supersede its Creator?
As often reminded, hate is among the most toxic of acids that “does more damage to the vessel in which it is perpetually stored than to the objects on which it may occasionally be poured.”
One poet has described love as the mother and all mankind as her children. Only a mother can understand such analogy. Yet in the Baha’i Holy Scriptures we read, “Love Me that I may love thee. If thou loveth Me not, My love can no wise reach thee.”
How many can relate to this, however, from childhood up, who have overtly or covertly loved someone (on different levels) who either never knew it or could not have cared less–? Another has defined love as “Giving someone the power to destroy you, and the trust that they won’t.”
The latter is probably the one that generates the fear in far too many of us to bestow such power or trust that might jeopardize “Keeping Hope alive!”
Upon discovering (and memorizing) the Hollow Reed Prayer many years ago I decided to place my priorities instead in trying to accomplish some degree of becoming a hollow reed from which the pith of self hath been blown that I may become a clear channel through which (God’s) love may flow to others…” Only recently did I discover more Baha’i passages that stressed (having attained any degree of such accomplishment), “Beseech ye the Lord thy God that no earthly entanglements no worldly affections and no
ephemeral pursuits will tarnish the purity or embitter the sweetness of that Grace that flows through you!” (Investigate! 1-800-22unite)
