A few days ago, I came across a poem that really resonated with me. We live is a world fraught with hate and angst. And the trigger points seem to be radically different than they were just a few short years ago.
“Open dialog”, “tolerance”, and “acceptance” have become buzz words, and no one seems to understand that those words and actions have great impact on the well-being of society at large.
But in 2003, a man by the name of Michael Josephson wrote a poem that reflects what is really important, especially in our times of great division. I would like to post it here as it has been freely downloadable from the website:
In the words of a great humanitarian, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr:
Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man’s sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true.”
“One of the great liabilities of history is that all too many people fail to remain awake through great periods of social change. Every society has its protectors of status quo and its fraternities of the indifferent who are notorious for sleeping through revolutions. Today, our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenge of change.”
Perhaps it is time for us to reflect on those who have chosen to live in peace instead of violence, love instead of hate, and embrace our fellow brothers and sisters with something far greater than what we are witnessing in our world today. Perhaps it is time to embrace civil discourse once more and accept the differences we all have instead of trying to silence them.
If it were not for those unique viewpoints, there would be no relationship that would ever be perfect enough, no love strong enough, no idea grand enough to not be shared and make our world grow into a better place. It is not a time to shatter and discard the other’s views on a whim because one person’s mind is closed to opposition.
We perfect ourselves when we encounter change or challenge. And we will never allow ourselves to explore new possibilities if we close off anyone or any idea outside our own echo chamber.
In a world that is increasingly hostile to the very idea of human dignity, these voices are more relevant than ever.
We are all on our own unique journey through this life. Perhaps it is time to support each other simply because we share in being equally human instead of trying to judge or force others along our own path. If we hold the Truth, then others will want to follow it if our example is expressed with grace and mercy.
If we do not, then we need to be open to the possibility that we might be wrong, and seek to find out the Truth without prejudice. It is surprising the encounters we discover about ourselves when we allow ourselves to be wrong…or be humble when right.
Respectfully share your thoughts and reflections in the comment section below. We would love to have your input on how we can continue the momentum of learning to accept and support the dignity of every human being.