Upland, CA
Two people in history I have admired are Martin Luther King Jr and Mahatma Gandhi. While these two men lived in different times and places, there are several notable similarities between them. They both were proponents of nonviolent resistance as a means to bring about social change. They believed in the power of peaceful protests, civil disobedience, and passive resistance to challenge oppressive systems and policies. Both leaders dedicated their lives to fighting for the rights of marginalized communities. Martin Luther King Jr., championed the rights of African Americans in the United States, advocating for racial equality, desegregation, and voting rights. Mahatma Gandhi fought for the rights of Indians under British colonial rule, working towards India’s independence and promoting equality for all citizens. What I think I appreciate most about these two great men was how they stressed the importance of love. They believed that love was vital to overcoming hatred and violence, and they sought to foster a sense of unity and brotherhood among people. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., shared that hate cannot overcome hate, but rather love overcomes hate.
Recently my pastor preached a sermon where he shared, that what the world needs now is love, sweet love. He shared that in this turbulent world the only thing that can cure hatred and violence is love. The lyrics he was quoting was from the song, “What the World Needs Now Is Love.” What are we doing to show love to others even when they have not shown love or kindness towards us? The bible talks about the importance of turning the other cheek when someone has wronged us, but that is not always easy to do. Submitting to the will of God no matter what, is not always easy either.
I remember years ago John Hope Bryant, the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Operation HOPE, said that broke is not poor, and broke is not necessarily broken. This world may be experiencing brokenness, but it does not mean we are broken beyond repair and that there is no hope for healing and restoration. All it takes is for each of us to be willing to take a stand and do what is right and just for all mankind. I am a firm believer that each of us have the power to make a difference and turn things around. Everything is a state of mind, and it is up to us to adjust our mindset as to what is important and what is right. We get twisted by society and the pressures to conform to what is popular or comfortable, but that does not mean it is right. We must start thinking about what our core values are and how do we stand up for what is right for all mankind and not just what is popular at a given moment in time. It is so easy to get sidetracked. This is where we must get away from our emotions and truly take a stand for what is right.
We must learn through the lives and teachings of Martin Luther King Jr., and Mahatma Gandhi that it is only through love, understanding, and forgiveness that we can hope to overcome hate. It may not be easy, and it may require significant effort and patience, but choosing a path of compassion and reconciliation is vital for breaking the cycle of hatred and fostering a more harmonious and inclusive society.
Healing Without Hate: It’s a choice. It’s a lifestyle. Pass it on.
