Blog 319 – 06.17.16

To quote Forest Gump, “I am not a smart man but I know what love is.” The Gun Lobby would have you believe that the answer to the horrific act of violence in Orlando last Sunday is for everyone to carry a gun. I know that guns don’t kill people, people do. But people with guns kill people a lot faster, easier, and in greater numbers. Statistically more guns kill family members and their owners themselves than kill “bad guys.”

I have no political aspirations so believe me I have no intention of taking anyone’s gun away from them. It is a very foolish act and one could lose their life in the attempt politically and for real. The root cause of violence is hate and the root cause of hate is fear. Fear not hate is the opposite of love. There is a wonderful verse in the New Testament to this point: “Perfect love casts out fear. He who fears is not made perfect in love.”

Many live in a very fearful world full of hate. Terrible acts are committed because of fear and hate. Violence is not the answer to violence anymore than hate is to hate or fear is to fear. We fear and hate what we do not know. We fear and hate people and things that are different. We fear and hate change and the unknown. Another wonderful verse says, “But you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” The truth is not a club to beat others into submission with nor is the truth the other kind of club you join to be safe, with, or in. The truth in a nut shell is about Who and Whose you are.

You are loved, you are loving, you are altogether lovely for you are love, Love Himself or Herself incarnate.

When you, I , or anyone acts out of fear or hatred we are acting out of character against our true nature and we and others suffer. Love is not only the answer to violence, hatred, and fear it is the only option. The history of mankind is littered with wars to end all wars, pay back, measured and not so measured responses to violence. The only response that ever has or ever will make a difference is love. Don’t give into the illusion. Love is all there is. And as the Beatles so aptly put it, “Love is all we need, love is all we need.”

Your friend and fellow traveler,
David White