A time for………
The world is on fire; in such a way we have not seen in recent history. Bigotry, hate, violence and appeasement have become the new standards in a world overwhelmed by daily news broadcast of the latest tragedy, mankind against mankind, religion pitted against religion, culture and race against culture and race. Neighbors have become enemies, friends have become strangers and hope turned to despair.
There are those in our world today that feed off the fear they project on others, that have made their life purpose to isolate and infer hatred for those that choose to believe differently than they do. There are those in our world today that practice zero tolerance for such basic principles as freedom to express your ideas and thoughts, to practice a religion of your choice and to live a life of hope and opportunity.
These others, not having a positive message to lift people up, instead feed off despair, ignorance and a life perceived without hope for a brighter and positive future.
For these reasons and more, now, more than ever, is the time for……
Compassion, reaching across what some would make create as religious, cultural or racial divides. Reaching across to care for and protect those that are most vulnerable, that due to circumstances of the countries they were born in, the religions they were born into or the environment that surrounds them, feel lost and without a sense of positive purpose. We, who were blessed enough to be born in an environment where our society laid the groundwork for a positive future, where our parents taught us to treat all with respect and tolerance, and our principles of morality remain intact, have a duty towards others that reside in a perpetual state of hopelessness and vulnerability.
Forgiveness, to release the negative baggage, the iron and chains of hate that drag you down to the level that those who would make you as they are. To free from your heart, your soul, the pain of the past, while remembering those things that brought you to this point, so that you will never repeat them again.
Respect, to treat diversity as a blessing, as an opportunity to learn and grow from others. To acknowledge that we can have different ideas, a different perspective, that our diversity in truth represents the strength of the whole.
It is a time for Strength. The strength to confront evil, violence, intolerance and hate, decisively and ultimately, to win. The strength to make unpopular but right decisions, while maintaining the wisdom, courage and character to overcome those that would challenge these decisions. The strength to protect those that are most vulnerable in our society, and the strength to respect the diversity of both ideologies and values that we hold. The strength to live as best we can, a principled life, full of hope for a future and that indeed, not only that we CAN be the catalyst for positive change and strength, but that we WILL be the force of good in the precious world around us.