Stare Down Hate

The January 5 issue of the Cape Cod Times had a disturbing cartoon in the Ideas & Opinion section.   I include it here: “The United Hates of America” with many divisions being overlaid on the country.   One can only hope this image with all its nasty and horrible implications is an exaggeration.  However, so much is happening in our country and with our relationships with other nations throughout the world that one wonders, and frets.

Accompanying that cartoon was a Times editorial that scored high in my estimation: “Try civility, compassion, and contemplation in 2020.” It ended with: “In the year and decade now beginning, a little more civility, compassion, and contemplation may be just the antidotes to inoculate ourselves from the vitriol and viciousness that can clearly be predicted, given the buildup we’ve already seen to this election year.  Focusing more on respect, caring for others and understanding common problems may also be a good path to our own better health.”

There is an antidote to hate but for many it’s a bitter pill to swallow.  It is easy to hate; it is difficult to love.

As Star Wars’ Yoda said, “When you look at the dark side, careful you must be, for the dark side looks back.”  Hate is part of our dark side, and it looks back at us to control us and damage us.

Following Jesus is the antidote.  However, for many of us we share the feeling of Lt Colonel  Frank Slade in the movie “Scent of a Woman.”  Defending his young friend Charlie having been accused of covering up a school prank by not naming the guilty parties, Slade said, “I don't know if Charlie's silence here today is right or wrong. I'm not a judge or jury, but I can tell you this: He won't sell anybody out to buy his future! And that, my friends, is called integrity. That's called courage. Now that's the stuff leaders should be made of. Now I have come to the crossroads in my life. I always knew what the right path was. Without exception, I knew. But I never took it. You know why? It was too damn hard…” 

Most of us know the right path [Jesus’ path], but taking it is just “too damn hard.”  When our dark side looks back at us and encourages hate, we should stare it down – through love.  That's called courage; that's called integrity.

Deacon David Pierce