Martin Luther King Jr. may have said it best.
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy to a friend.”
In this duality driven world, we all have a tendency to become entrenched in our own points of view. Society trains us to see life in extremes - black/white, A/B, right/wrong, etc. Our world right now is highly complex and volatile. Many people feel displaced, vulnerable, and upset. Some are much too inclined to demand that everyone adhere to a particular consensual reality, so that they can feel validated and in control.
It behooves us to show more tolerance to the person who may contradict our personal belief system. Society is way too inclined to demand that everyone agree with one consensual reality. We may each as individuals be part of a larger collective, but we are also entitled to have and express our sovereign viewpoints.
A sense of respect and carefully considering other viewpoints could stand humanity in good stead. There is a huge gray zone between the extremes to which most people adhere. There are solutions to be found in the gray area(s), when we give it half a chance. To quote the poet Rumi, “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right doing there is a field. I'll meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass the world is too full to talk about.”
Stereotypes and their labels propagate a full spectrum of negative, divisive, and destructive behavior and outcomes. We know the usual stereotypes, based on race, color, gender, economics, political affiliation, etc. It is a challenge for each of us every single day to recognize and overcome the stereotypes we carry within us. Otherwise, how will we ever bridge to a world based on tolerance and understanding?
Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the greatest visionaries for humanity. He raised the bar and dared us to be better people. His inspiring words continue to speak to the very essence of us as human beings. They inspire us to improve our own character and integrity, so that we can then each contribute to a better humanity.
The ability to see a broader perspective leads to understanding, compassion, respect, and a willingness to cooperate to solve problems. A state of grace comes from a place of allowance, that others might have another way of seeing it. Grace is rooted in a true caring about other people. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Grace flows from love”.
Achieving a state of grace in ourselves elevates us to a real place of service to others. Can you imagine how our world would be transformed if everyone committed to living in a state of grace? Perhaps eventually we’d even be able to erase war from the human experience!
Martin Luther King Jr. may have said many things best:
“Let no man pull you so low as to hate him.”
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
“There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right.”
“We must learn that passively to accept an unjust system is to cooperate with that system, and thereby to become a participant in its evil.”
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
“Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.”
“The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood.”
“We must either learn to live together as brothers, or we are going to die together as fools.”
“Faith is taking the first step even when you can't see the whole staircase.”
“Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.”
“Everybody can be great… because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.”
© SL Hart 2023
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