For the first time in my life I feel a growing divide between myself and people that I love and respect. These are people that I have historically gone to in times of distress and frustration, as well as people that I have celebrated my life with. Some of them are people who openly proclaim faith in a loving savior. The behavior and opinions I see expressed in our modern forum- Facebook, are tempting to gnaw away at years of trust as I watch people villainize those who hold differing opinions from them, purely out of pride and judgement. This is the cause of my frustration. That frustration is just a symptom of a much deeper heartache within me.
This issue of mine seems to know no particular side. Discourse from either camp seems to quickly devolve into prideful arguments where the idea of being right trumps any sense of unity or attempts at understanding. Blanket statements and memes are being posted without much thought, spreading further the hate that divides. That's hate's job, you know.- to divide us from one another. It's working.
But hating is excessive. It requires a lot of energy to sustain itself, a small fire nursed quickly into a blazing fury as more people join the ranks. Some people are taking a stand against hate, a noble thought. But there is another danger within this approach. Hating hate is still hate- even more hate on the hate pile. It's adding kindling to the fire.
It makes me feel all sorts of ways. I, too, combat the urge to do this myself. It's part of why I started to write this. I could feel it creeping into the edges of my vision as I contemplated snarky responses to posts and how I could go most quickly for the jugular of those I call friends. With all of the hating I have witnessed the last couple days alone it's been difficult to control my anger towards this absurd situation. It's in the air- contagious. I imagine many more of us are under its sway than they even know.
I don't condemn anyone in writing this. Hate is infectious, dangerous and preys on the prideful and weak alike. It seduces with its seeming power and false sense of strength, leading to a blindness to the pain of others and lack of compassion. And the more that it is fed, the more it will grow. Hate is a habit, one I am working to give up.
I, alone, cannot hope to change the world. But that doesn't mean that I shouldn't try to do anything constructive in the situation. I can ask questions instead of frustratedly leveling accusations or judgements at those I disagree with, or trying to make them feel foolish for their ignorance. I can inform myself more about our collective past, where we've come from to get to here so that I can better see the patterns as they re-emerge. I can fact check before I post and ask myself "Will this contribute to love or hate if I post it?" I can find a way to get involved through a cause that is working towards a loving, peaceful and constructive resolution. I can stop listening to the uninformed and hateful posting on social media and not further contribute to it. I can choose to love those I might prefer to hate and end the cycle.
Love is a habit too, but also takes energy to build. It takes effort to love those we don't agree with. It takes effort to love those who hurt us or embarrass us, or visciously hate something we love dearly. It takes even more effort to love someone you don't really know but can see the ugly opinions of. But it is possible. We just have to try.
Blessed are those who love the haters, for they shall heal the world.