Love your neighbor <period>

Mark 12:30-31 ~ And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.

Just like most people witnessing the chaos going on in our country, it has left me heartsick, broken, and feeling hopeless. And it, of course, makes me question…..am I prejudiced? Unfortunately, my answer would have to be yes. Maybe we all need to ask ourselves that question. If we would put a mirror in front of ourselves for a moment and stop looking at and hating those who think differently than we do, we would realize we all are prejudiced against someone. Regardless of what side of the aisle you find yourself in race, religion or politics you have certain preconceived opinions about those on the other side. What’s the first thought that comes to your mind when you see an overweight person riding one of those carts in Walmart? What do you think when you see a super skinny person? Or someone smoking? Whether you are a black person who thinks all white people want to hurt you or you are a white person who thinks all black people are criminals. Whether you are a gay person who thinks all Christians think you’re going to hell or you are a Christian who thinks all gay people misunderstand your faith. Whether you are a Republican who thinks all Democrats want to do is destroy this country and kill babies or you are a Democrat who thinks all Republicans are gun toting, bible thumping, bigots. THAT IS PREJUDICE! WE ARE ALL GUILTY!! So what’s the answer? How do we fix the anger and hatred that is tearing this country apart? Simple…Sunday School answer. Love your neighbor as yourself <period> It doesn’t say love them if they believe the same way you do, have the same skin color you do, or vote the same way you do. It says, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’. That means put down your judgmental Judy megaphone and see your neighbor the way you would like to be seen. Believe me, I am speaking to myself more than anyone. I know I’m guilty. I have shaken my head more than once at the violence and destruction I’ve witnessed this past week, calling it ignorance and thought hatred towards those people. But that’s not what I’m called to do. I’m called to love my neighbor as myself. This is not an easy task, especially since every media, social or otherwise is bound and determined to push us to hate each other, to divide us and make us think we have no hope. But I believe, without doubt, our hope is in Jesus. Our hope is in believing and living out what the word of God tells us to live out. Please do not give into hopelessness and the hatred that is spewing from every direction. Pray for those you don’t understand. Pray that God gives you understanding and acceptance. Not so much acceptance for a belief that is different than your own, but acceptance of the person that believes differently than you do. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF <period>