Matthew 12:15-32

“He, however was aware of what was passing in their minds, and said to them, ‘Any realm divided against itself becomes a desolation, and any town or household divided against itself will not last.’”  Matthew 12:25

There is a lot of division in the United States these days.  It’s obvious to everyone, but what is it that divides us?

I think it’s deeper than just politics.  I think it’s deeper than just religion.  On the surface it sometimes seems to be this deep seated pettiness.

Somehow I think our inner child is crying out for attention, for love, and in that, we are reacting with petty retaliation.

Almost like we are playing a poker game… I’ll see your ante and raise you a hundredfold. 

It’s a school yard fight among friends and family.

I can’t help but wonder if this is our inner child, our inner self, crying out for acceptance, for attention, for love.

Almost like how we know that hurt people, hurt people.  Bullies usually are crying out for help. 

Are we doing this as a nation?  Have we forgotten how to love ourselves and each other?  What does it mean to love ourselves?   What does it mean to accept ourselves? 

I don’t know. Maybe stop the negative self talk, while being careful not to go too far the other way, where we become too full of ourselves.  

How do we begin to love others?  That seems easy.  Be kind but is it deeper than that?  

“Love your neighbor as yourself” comes to mind. But maybe that’s where the problem is.  There is too much self-loathing in the world.  Perhaps, this is the problem, perhaps not only is our nation divided but as individuals, within ourselves, we are divided.

Perhaps our own being, our own self is divided against itself. We are not at peace within ourselves, we are not in love, agape love, with ourselves and this is leaching out into the world around us and dividing families, communities, churches, and yes, our nation.

Perhaps once we work on our inner self and learn to love ourselves, learn to be who are meant to be, learn to listen to our own soul, our own heart, and bring it all back together, become whole again, perhaps then, and only then, can we repair the divide in the world around us.

I encourage each of us to take time over the next few days, and continue on through eternity, to turn inward, to quiet the ego, and to listen for soul, for spirit.  Find the deep love that resides in all of us and let it grow in you.  As you do, as I do, as we all do, I believe we will begin to see the deep division repaired.  

Love really is the answer and it begins within you.

Until next time…♥️