Whether it is Charles Worley in Maiden, NC on May 13th wanting to put homosexuals in a concentration camp (or hang ‘em from a white oak tree as his sermon from 1978 suggested) or Ron Baity from Winston-Salem, NC saying that gays should be prosecuted. The words that ring in my head are those of Jesus “Forgive them Father for they know not what they do.”
I hope that all who were as outraged as I was at this ignorance can see it for what it is…fear. Let us remember that if we fight it, we feed it. I know it is hard but here is where we get to do the real fighting, the real work and dig down and somehow find compassion for someone so ignorant and so filled with hate. Someone so confused and misled that he actually thinks that he is doing God's will by preaching hate and sharing plans for murdering other human beings.
A Spiritual teacher once told me to place a picture of people like these folks on my altar and pray for them, so I do. I do it because it frees me from the "pukin' sick" feeling (to quote the Maiden, NC minister), it frees me to return to what is true and that is that God is love...period, and this fella and ones like him have no idea what that love feels like so I pray that one day he will. I believe Jesus’ teachings are summed up by this “1) Love God with all your heart and 2) Love your neighbor as yourself.” Let us remember that the “Love your neighbor” thing is not just the neighbors you like, the ones you agree with and the ones you approve of. Let us remember that this works both ways so let us do our best not to stoop to their level by judging others for judging us and hating the haters. In the words of Thich Nhat Hanh “Breathe, it will be ok” and in A Course in Miracles “The Divine needs no defense.” So breathe and know who you are, (all of us) made in the image and likeness of love, so let your love lead and the hate will not be able to withstand it. For those of you who say that you lay awake wishing harm to come to these people and ones like them let’s practice a new approach. Next time thoughts of hate for the haters fill your mind, consciously shift your focus onto something or someone you love with all your heart; a spiritual figure, a family member, a pet, etc. Two things can’t reside in the same place so break free from the trance of hate by cultivating the feeling of love.
Decide right now...how will you be the presence of love today in your life, in our world?!
Thank you for being the CHANGE!
