See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for everyone else.

For a decade and nearly a generation of high school students, I expounded a very simple thing – “Do not hate anything or anybody… in fact do not ever use the word.” What is hate? It is an intensely hostile aversion, compounded by anger and fear and centered on a real or supposed cause of injury. Hate is insidious. It needs no external nourishment. It festers, then feeds on its own carrion. Over a generation ago I witnessed the beginning of total disintegration of mind, body and soul, due to hate. Hate guided every waking minute and polluted each sleepless night. Longfellow paraphrased these feelings most eloquently “ and in despair I bowed my head, there is no peace on earth. For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men. But even with spirit broken and head bowed… there comes help. Then pealed the bells more loud and deep. God is not dead, nor does he sleep. The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to men.”

LOVING GOD, SHOW US HOW TO SEEK GOOD FOR ONE ANOTHER. REMOVE FROM US CAPACITY TO HATE, AND REPLACE IT WITH THE WILL AND ABILITY TO SHOW YOUR PERFECT LOVE TO THE WORLD. AMEN.

-Shared by A Church Membe