What’s more powerful; Love or hate? Remember 9-11!

I know that most struggle with the WHY question in life. Why was there a 9-11? How is it possible that the most powerful nation in the world could be taken by surprise by a small group of terrorist and do the unthinkable? The Pearl Harbor attack also has also gone down as one of the worst attacks on the US military in history. How is any of this possible? The real question that arises is how is it possible that it seems that HATE is more powerful than LOVE? Why would anyone attack the largest building in the world full of people from all over the world? The amount of effort, training and commitment it took to hijack airplanes and then fly them into these monuments to man’s achievements is unthinkable.

This last week has shown the resilience of the American people as we will watch multiple hurricanes attack our cities and coastlines. The amazing response has been millions responding by donating to various nonprofits to help. More impressive are the 1,000’s that have left the security of their homes to help as first responders to rescue people stranded. The fires that continue to ravage the west coast have shown the same resilience as firemen from all the US travel to help the various ‘Hot Shot’ teams.

Why does it often seem that it takes tragedy to bring out the best in people? I truly believe that love, compassion, mercy and grace will transform lives and make the world a better place. I also believe hate is like a cancer that will continue to hurt until like the surgeon it is stopped! Our amazing country faces an ongoing crisis when it comes to understanding the real basis of our country that has made it great! I personally struggle with the apparent zeal for nationalism and protectionism by some in our country. What happened to caring in a practical way for our homeless Veterans who have given their lives for our country. Yet, too many live on the streets and have been forgotten?

How is it possible that as a country that we are incapable of working together for the greater good of our nation and the world? What stops our elected representatives from compromising their extremes to find workable pathways? As I watched the erection of a border statue of a young child, #Jarret, symbolizing the cries of the forgotten and how walls built by our country don’t solve the ills of our country or the world. Amazing that it takes a hurricane to get our attention back on helping real people that have legitimate needs instead of arguing about a group of young people that were brought to our country illegally? These DACA recipients are incredible people that have finished high school, graduated from college and served in our military.

I’m sadden and outraged by the hate that has come out in our own country. This brings back the fact that we have forgotten about how horribly we have treated African Americans as slaves both past and present, the internment camps with our Japanese families, the ongoing impact of the elitism of a few that assumes one race/culture is better than another! I know that there isn’t an easy pathway to make things better until everyone is willing to be humble, reflective on the responsibility of those that have been blessed with much and the difficulty of those with the power to learn, show remorse for poor or outright wrong decisions.

This last Saturday I was fortunate to have a group of friends gather to make burritos and sort clothing for our homeless friends on the street. This could have easily generated into a discussion of whether the homeless were deserving of compassion and help. Yet, what happened was a team of volunteers that accomplished so much in a short time.

My lasting memory from Saturday is of an older homeless friend, Robert, who is a veteran and always goes out of his way to say thank you. He purposely asks me if he can pray for me and then blesses me. I’m humbled and truly loved.

Yes!! Love will always overcome the hate in our society!