Reflections on love and hate

Watching a pool shimmer in the night’s pale light, I realized there’s more to it. It’s not about 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 love in the moments when it looks as if the darkness will take over? 

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. 

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.
Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter’s oven?
And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

Some of you say, “Joy is greater than sorrow,” and others say, “Nay, sorrow is the greater.”
But I say unto you, they are inseparable.
Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed. Kahlil Gibran The Prophet, Amazon affiliate link

Hate transformed by love begins a healing process, but it takes time and effort. Are we capable of it? 

Yes.

If you like this type or writing you may enjoy this book of poetry linked via an affiliate account: Younger Days and a Whisper