Keeping the Peace

This week my heart and mind have been heavy as I thought about what to share. I very much desire for my blog to be entertaining, educational and enlightening. But at the end of the day, I must also write about what I feel and believe. Recently I've noticed some negativity among people I hoped to respect, even people I would consider leaders in the community. One thing I know for sure, no one rises to the top by knocking someone else down.

I really believe it is a shame when an individual publicly humiliates another person, especially when there's been a history, friendship and even a working relationship that once existed. I ask how can someone say they are an advocate for peace and yet they try to destroy another person's reputation and possibly even their livelihood? If you have a problem or a disappointment with a person, it might not be a bad idea to just pull them aside and help them.

To confirm my thoughts about this week's article, what I found interesting is when I was in church this morning the pastor talked about judgment and being careful when we pass judgment on another. After all, we've all heard the saying, "he who is without sin cast the first stone." So understand, I am not passing judgment, I just want to give all of us something to think about. Leaders construct not destroy.

Of course, I had to look at the bible before I brought closure to this thought. James 4:1 says, " where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?" Usually when we try to breakdown another it is because of pride. We know pride comes before a fall...In the book of James, he goes further to say, "If anyone among you thinks he's religious, but does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless."

In closing, I just want to say, if we profess peace, then we need to stop fighting with one another and practice what we preach. Figure it out, work it out with your fellow brother or sister. Life is short and we should build up instead of destroying others. Extend the olive branch, believe me if you're sincere it works. This step can lead to forgiveness and that can eventually lead to peace.

"...that old law about an eye for an eye leaves everybody blind. The time is always right to do the right thing. Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.


Healing Without Hate: It's a choice. It's a lifestyle. Pass it on!