"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
Martin Luther King, Jr.
In the midst of intensifying political strife—which I enter regularly and with great passion—I want to remember that quote of Dr. King's. I strive mightily to stop short of hate in my reactions to the bias, the distortions, and the lies told about President Obama and what he has and has not done during his first term. But that's not a worthy goal, stopping just short of hate.
It's time to direct my energy, my personal power, into being an informed voice for truth—and here's the hard part: while keeping my heart open, even to those who do not value the truth as much as I do. May I reflect the light more than deepening the darkness. That's my intention for today. During this highly-charged political season, I'll need to revisit that intention on a regular basis, taking it one day at a time like the 12-step programs advise. This doesn't mean I'll be silent, nor does it mean I won't express anger, even outrage, at times. It doesn't mean I will stifle the passion.
I'm not aiming for sainthood, after all; that wouldn't be a good fit for me. I simply want to remember to keep my heart open. To offer the kindness and respect I want to receive from others.
And of course I want to see Democratic victories from the oval office on down the ballot come November 6!
Wonderful blog, so full of insight and beautifully written opinion. I'll be reading this regularly. Let's all remember to VOTE.
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