From TRUTH To FREEDOM

the power of hatred

Have you ever had someone look at you or speak to you in a hateful manner? Do you remember the feeling it gave you? Did you respond with hate, or did you quell the hatred with the greater power of love and a kind reply?

The poem, “It Shows in Your Face” by Lottie Pratt Brown, says it well.

"You don’t have to tell how you live each day;
You don’t have to say if you work or you play;
A tried, true barometer serves in the place–
However you live, it will show in your face.

The false, the deceit that you bear in your heart,
Will not stay inside where it first got a start;
For sinew and blood are a thin veil of lace–
What you wear in your heart, you wear in your face.

If your life is selfless, if for others you live,
For not what you get, but how much you can give;
If you live close to God in his infinite grace–
You don’t have to tell it, it shows in your face."

Often, as we watch the news, or as we read about world events, it doesn’t make sense to us. Why is the leader of this country doing that hateful thing, or why does that group of people seem to harbor such animosity toward another group? Why are those people inflicting such evil, hatred and harm upon another group of people?

When we think a little deeper than the surface of what is being said, we can see not very far below the surface, a dark and sinister layer of pride, wrath and hatred.

Wikipedia has this to say about hatred: “Hatred or hate is an intense negative emotional response towards certain people, things or ideas, usually related to opposition or revulsion toward something. Hatred is often associated with intense feelings of anger, contempt, and disgust. Hatred is sometimes seen as the opposite of love. A number of different definitions and perspectives on hatred have been put forth. Philosophers have been concerned with understanding the essence and nature of hatred, while some religions view it positively and encourage hatred toward certain outgroups.”

Where did such hatred come from?How did it get its start?

Hatred is born of ignorance. It is then taught to each generation by parents, grandparents, so-called friends, and leaders of influence to a younger and impressionable generation.

But why does this youthful generation let its elder parents and leaders teach them to hate? You guessed it. Ignorance. Well, what is ignorance? Simply stated ignorance it is lack of knowledge, education, or awareness. It is choosing to ignore what is available to be known.

Where does this lack of knowledge, education or being unaware come from. I submit that it comes primarily from two places.

First; a willingness to accept what others around us do or say that is replete with prejudice overtones, this becoming an influence that we accept as truth, and thus propagate its incorrect assertion.

Second; it comes from pure, unadulterated laziness on the part of the ignorant person. The fact is that many people are just not willing to take the time to read, research and experience things themselves. They are slothful in their own edification and become a harm to society by not caring enough to find and embrace the truth about a situation or about other people.

to love or to hate- the choice is ours

From the book “The Greatest Salesman in the World” by Og Mandino, we learn from the Scroll Marked II, that Ali Hafed was instructed to embrace this profound thought and feeling:
“I will greet this day with love in my heart.”

If only each of us could start our day with this mantra. How powerful that would be. Can you imagine the way the world would be if each person looked for the best in another person, or in a situation and then built upon that thought/feeling?

PREJUDICE, WRATH AND HATRED ARE A HARD AND burdensome GROUP OF FEELINGS TO CARRY AROUND.

They don’t produce any truly positive results and often lead to evil designs and destruction of minds, bodies and souls. We see the “fruit” of ignorance, prejudice, wrath and hatred in our daily world news, and it’s not good. These powerful words represent incredibly powerful and evil thoughts and actions, that produce nothing but discord, anger, ill feelings and decimation among those that harbor and feed them.

IN CONTRAST TO HATE, PRIDE, WRATH AND IGNORANCE:

Try to envision a world where each person, their ideas and feelings are given respect and consideration; most especially if they are at variance with our ideas and feelings.

What if we actually were willing to listen to and get to know another person before we judge them against our experience, view or standard?

A very common cause of great miscommunication is one or the other not actively and sincerely listening to the other. Bromley, wrote of a simple correction to this malady, in his poem, “A Wise Old Owl”

In his book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, the author Stephen R. Covey guides us to “Seek first to understand, then to be understood”.

This principle of interpersonal communication emphasizes the importance of listening empathetically to others before expressing your own views, fostering better communication and understanding in relationships.

It may be a new paradigm for most of us to set aside our engrained views or feelings on any given issue in order to actually listen, get to know and understand, and then to use our own innate spirit of discernment to guide us in our personal and corporate relationships. After all, in life, we’re dealing with real, live, feeling people, not inanimate abstract matter.

“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.”

Proverbs 3:13-14.

Let us all resolve to be better in our wisdom, our understanding and our heart of mercy toward each other. When we speak of highly charged, or emotional issues, or of anything that we feel strongly about, let us control our emotions and remember the wisdom of Solomon:

A world full of love instead of hate- is it possible?

A world full of love and understanding; indeed a world free of pride, prejudice, wrath and hatred will serve us all better. We will be happier, more fulfilled, more prosperous and healthier, and able to live in harmony with others, even if their views or lifestyle is different than ours.

Prejudice and hate destroy all the light and purity in the world.

The devil is the author of all hatred and has been from the beginning of all time.

But Jesus Christ taughter us to love one another.

the world belongs to us all

A healthy worldview based upon truth is the lens from which you can put everything in perspective.

the power of hatred

Where did such hatred come from?How did it get its start?

I will greet this day with love in my heart

to love or to hate- the choice is ours

when i do good i feel good. when i do bad, i feel bad, and that is my religion.

PREJUDICE, WRATH AND HATRED ARE A HARD AND burdensome GROUP OF FEELINGS TO CARRY AROUND.

"A wise old owl lived in an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard: Why can't we all be like that wise old bird?"

"seek first to understand, then to be understood"

“A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright, but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.”

A world full of love instead of hate- is it possible?

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

the world belongs to us all

A healthy worldview based upon truth is the lens from which you can put everything in perspective.

the power of hatred

Where did such hatred come from?How did it get its start?

I will greet this day with love in my heart

to love or to hate- the choice is ours

when i do good i feel good. when i do bad, i feel bad, and that is my religion.

PREJUDICE, WRATH AND HATRED ARE A HARD AND burdensome GROUP OF FEELINGS TO CARRY AROUND.

"A wise old owl lived in an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard: Why can't we all be like that wise old bird?"

"seek first to understand, then to be understood"

“A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright, but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.”

A world full of love instead of hate- is it possible?

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

Subscribe

Connect With Us

This website uses cookies.