Reflections on love and hate

Watching a pool shimmer in the night’s pale light, I realized it’s not in watching only the light or looking only at the dark, the good stuff is contained in how the light and dark areas intermingle.  The patterns they create.  Offering a large reflective surface, the moon shares her reflected sunlight which then hits the dark areas in the water.  Areas that are closer to the moon shine, those that are further away, remain dark.  

Much like those who love and those who hate.

It’s not in concentrating on the lovers or the evil doers, but on how they interact.  What do those who love do when they encounter hate?  What do those who hate do when they encounter love?  How does someone filled with love shine or reflect ever abundant love in those moments when it looks as if the darkness will envelope them? 

If we see only light or only darkness, there is no juxtaposition, no comparison of action.  One day it will be possible to transform those who hate into those who love, but are we there yet?  Is the world not showing us the way right now?  She’s saying, “Here my little children is what war looks like, here is what evil looks like, here is what grieving looks like, here is what it does.  How will you respond?” 

What’s your answer?   Will you respond with hate or love?
Hate combated with hate only breeds more hate. 

Hate transformed by love begins a healing process, but it takes time and effort. Are we capable of it?  For the sake of our spiritual growth and our children’s lives, I surely hope so…