Non-violence towards everyone?
This is the day set aside in the United States to honor the ideals, work and dreams of Martin Luther King, Jr. As I wrote yesterday, many communities started their celebrations yesterday. Here in Wheeling events were remarkable to me for the relatively large attendance compared to past years, the inclusivity of many religious traditions and for the first time that I can remember an open insistence by some of the speakers that that all oppression including that based on sexual orientation must stop. The major of Wheeling challenged those attending to question what might be the norm for decency and justice. He reminded the audience that, at times in our history, many forms of oppression, including lynching, have been considered the norm for decency and justice.
As many read from speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr., some of which I heard in person, we were reminded of his belief in the rightness and the strength of non-violent protests – standing up for the rights of all with love even if it meant putting one’s life on the line.
I am not sure about others in the audience, but I found myself again and again feeing challenged to stand up with love inclusively. Really! Just as with Jesus and some other spiritual leaders it was King’s belief that the approach of love – of non-violence – applies to all. This includes the Roy Moores, the members of the Alt-Right, the political leaders who tweet unkind or even very mean remarks about many he (or she) do not like, the parent whose addiction forces them to neglect or even abuse their child, the child molester, the murder, the Judas, the prostitute, and the addict who is so desperate that they rob, steal, or even kill.
I knew many of those in attendance at the events yesterday here in Wheeling. I met others I had not known. Everyone I met was easy to love even if we disagreed about some issues. I often find myself in such situations where it is easy to love. Yet, there are some that I find it difficult to love. Often (perhaps always) those I find it difficult to love and those against whom I might even harbor violent or at the very least unkind thoughts are a mirror for some part of me. It may not be a very large part of me, but it is always a significant part of me. Daily I am awed by the concept of Grace/unconditional love. Daily I am challenged to accept that I am worthy of love – which I am worth more than my worst deed might suggest.
Daily I am challenged as one speaker yesterday reminded me to stand up to the one who is in word or deed mistreating another. I do not have a problem getting in someone’s face and stating, THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. No, for whatever reason, despite my diminutive size, I find that easy. Doing so with love – “You dear child of the God of my understanding do not want to mistreat that person. You are better than that. You deserve better just as the person you are mistreating deserves better.”
It is the inclusiveness of the proponents of the non- violent approach that challenges me today. When a person spews hateful language the challenge is for me to open my arms to embrace his or her painful fear.
Challenge for me means opportunity. Today I have an opportunity to be my best self – not perfect but my best loving self. Just for today.
Written January 15, 2018
This is the day set aside in the United States to honor the ideals, work and dreams of Martin Luther King, Jr. As I wrote yesterday, many communities started their celebrations yesterday. Here in Wheeling events were remarkable to me for the relatively large attendance compared to past years, the inclusivity of many religious traditions and for the first time that I can remember an open insistence by some of the speakers that that all oppression including that based on sexual orientation must stop. The major of Wheeling challenged those attending to question what might be the norm for decency and justice. He reminded the audience that, at times in our history, many forms of oppression, including lynching, have been considered the norm for decency and justice.
As many read from speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr., some of which I heard in person, we were reminded of his belief in the rightness and the strength of non-violent protests – standing up for the rights of all with love even if it meant putting one’s life on the line.
I am not sure about others in the audience, but I found myself again and again feeing challenged to stand up with love inclusively. Really! Just as with Jesus and some other spiritual leaders it was King’s belief that the approach of love – of non-violence – applies to all. This includes the Roy Moores, the members of the Alt-Right, the political leaders who tweet unkind or even very mean remarks about many he (or she) do not like, the parent whose addiction forces them to neglect or even abuse their child, the child molester, the murder, the Judas, the prostitute, and the addict who is so desperate that they rob, steal, or even kill.
I knew many of those in attendance at the events yesterday here in Wheeling. I met others I had not known. Everyone I met was easy to love even if we disagreed about some issues. I often find myself in such situations where it is easy to love. Yet, there are some that I find it difficult to love. Often (perhaps always) those I find it difficult to love and those against whom I might even harbor violent or at the very least unkind thoughts are a mirror for some part of me. It may not be a very large part of me, but it is always a significant part of me. Daily I am awed by the concept of Grace/unconditional love. Daily I am challenged to accept that I am worthy of love – which I am worth more than my worst deed might suggest.
Daily I am challenged as one speaker yesterday reminded me to stand up to the one who is in word or deed mistreating another. I do not have a problem getting in someone’s face and stating, THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. No, for whatever reason, despite my diminutive size, I find that easy. Doing so with love – “You dear child of the God of my understanding do not want to mistreat that person. You are better than that. You deserve better just as the person you are mistreating deserves better.”
It is the inclusiveness of the proponents of the non- violent approach that challenges me today. When a person spews hateful language the challenge is for me to open my arms to embrace his or her painful fear.
Challenge for me means opportunity. Today I have an opportunity to be my best self – not perfect but my best loving self. Just for today.
Written January 15, 2018
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