If there is no love

If there is no communication then there is no respect. If there is no respect then there is no caring. If there is no caring then there is no understanding. If there is no understanding then there is no compassion. If there is no compassion then there is no empathy. If there is no empathy then there is no forgiveness. If there is no forgiveness then there is no kindness. If there is no kindness then there is no honesty. If there is no honesty then there is no love. If there is no love then God doesn't reside there. If God doesn't reside there then there is no peace. If there is no peace then there is no happiness. If there is no happiness ----then there IS CONFLICT BECAUSE THERE IS NO COMMUNICATION!”

― Shannon L. Alder

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from Ammon Bundy

pontificating from the sagebrush of Oregon

to “that guy” on Facebook

whose logic is illogical (except to him)

to those who follow the high priests of hate and selfishness

and become a part of rabid political mobs,

attacking peaceful people who just happen not to agree with them

to all those who live in a world of “me”

and can only see their side of the issue

think of the impact on them

(who cares about the long term impact to other people, or the earth, or….)

We live in a world that is losing its mind

We are out of touch with others (isolated and angry)

We are isolated from ourselves ( we have so little insight it is scary)

and we lose our way

and sink into the quicksand of

“me” and “mine”,

We ooze resentment and outrage

and subsequently are losing compassion

and empathy

forgiveness

acceptance

kindness

and we are destroying

love

and peace

it has happened before

and every time it has

a nation

and eventually the earth

has become a place of horror

there are those that cry God is disappearing because

of gays

or Planned Parenthood

or because school sponsored public (and publican) prayer is not allowed (no one can stop a prayer BTW)

if God is disappearing

it is because we

are denying sacred presence

by denying what God is all about

love

forgiveness

acceptance

healing

reconciliation

what scares me

is that these angry, hateful people

with their strange delusional realities

make me angry

and hateful

and cause me to become much like them

I need to let that go

the way to overcome evil (people like Trump)

or so the Bible advises

is not with evil

but with good

God give me the strength

To take a deep breath

And reach out

In love

To and in love and keep my hands busy

And my mouth shut

(when speaking will do no good)

Lord help me 

to be an instrument of your peace