It never ceases to amaze me how easily manipulated we humans are. Here in the United States, we go back and forth between issues like gun control, racism, and gay marriage all within the blink of an eye. Most of us have opinions on these issues and more, so it becomes easy to get us all enmeshed in this battle or that battle, depending on what the media presents to us on that particular day.
The bright light that has sustained me for the past week and a half is the actions of the people of Charleston in reaction to the church shooting there. In a time of tragedy, these people have chosen to not act on the hype. They have not allowed a racially motivated shooting to put them into a state of fear and fighting. They speak of love and forgiveness. They have joined hand in hand with their fellow Americans and proclaimed, "We are ONE!" They have even been able to dispel potential trouble that was brought in from outside sources to try to create a riot in the name of racism!!! This is nothing short of a miracle in my book as I look at similar racial tensions in other parts of the United States (Ferguson, MO and Baltimore, MD more specifically) and the results in those places.
Does Charleston still have problems? You bet! Those pockets of racism that existed before the incident have not gone away. This is true everywhere in the country (and even in the rest of the world). They still have our human flaws.
It is not belief that makes the people of Charleston different from those in the rest of the country or even the rest of the world. The difference is their choice!!! They could have chosen to follow the guidance of the media and fight with their fellow humans over race. They could have protested the biogtry. They could have allowed violence to erupt. They could have gotten all hot and bothered over the media's use of the Confederate flag to draw out more hate. After it was all said and done, they still chose love, peace and forgiveness.
This is the choice that every one of us must now make!!! It is time to recognize the many ways we are led into battle with each other, and it is time to resist!!! Resist the temptation to debate why gay marriage is "right" or "wrong". Defy the media when they promote stories on gun control. Refuse to engage in the battle!!! Don't allow them to separate us from one another!!!
We stand at the edge of a precipice. We can choose to step out into the nothingness and into our own deaths, or we can begin building a bridge that will lead us to the paradise that awaits us on the other side. Each time we seek out love, each time we seek out peace, each time we seek out unity, we build that bridge that leads to the promised land.
It is not our beliefs that determine our future. It is our choices. Choose with intention.
~CSE
The bright light that has sustained me for the past week and a half is the actions of the people of Charleston in reaction to the church shooting there. In a time of tragedy, these people have chosen to not act on the hype. They have not allowed a racially motivated shooting to put them into a state of fear and fighting. They speak of love and forgiveness. They have joined hand in hand with their fellow Americans and proclaimed, "We are ONE!" They have even been able to dispel potential trouble that was brought in from outside sources to try to create a riot in the name of racism!!! This is nothing short of a miracle in my book as I look at similar racial tensions in other parts of the United States (Ferguson, MO and Baltimore, MD more specifically) and the results in those places.
Does Charleston still have problems? You bet! Those pockets of racism that existed before the incident have not gone away. This is true everywhere in the country (and even in the rest of the world). They still have our human flaws.
It is not belief that makes the people of Charleston different from those in the rest of the country or even the rest of the world. The difference is their choice!!! They could have chosen to follow the guidance of the media and fight with their fellow humans over race. They could have protested the biogtry. They could have allowed violence to erupt. They could have gotten all hot and bothered over the media's use of the Confederate flag to draw out more hate. After it was all said and done, they still chose love, peace and forgiveness.
This is the choice that every one of us must now make!!! It is time to recognize the many ways we are led into battle with each other, and it is time to resist!!! Resist the temptation to debate why gay marriage is "right" or "wrong". Defy the media when they promote stories on gun control. Refuse to engage in the battle!!! Don't allow them to separate us from one another!!!
We stand at the edge of a precipice. We can choose to step out into the nothingness and into our own deaths, or we can begin building a bridge that will lead us to the paradise that awaits us on the other side. Each time we seek out love, each time we seek out peace, each time we seek out unity, we build that bridge that leads to the promised land.
It is not our beliefs that determine our future. It is our choices. Choose with intention.
~CSE
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