How to Love Thy Neighbor

"Can't we all just get along?" If Rodney King would have patented that phrase he'd be a rich man. You watch CNN and you see the widespread violence, you see all the hatred that exist in the world. Some people say it's "Satan", others say it's the "sign of the times," or it's prophesy.

What is it? Plain and simple, we just don't respect one another. For reasons unbeknownst to me, we just don't realize that we are fighting ourselves. As the late Dr. King, and others have stated, if we cannot live together, we will surely perish together. As an international community, we seem hell bent on destroying ourselves. Civil, intelligent, logical, spiritual individuals that we are, we simply don't understand the enormous value of getting along, living together in love, as opposed to hate. The writing is on the wall for all of us to see. We are on a collision course and we appear to be doing everything we can to get there. How unfortunate, but for those few who hold out hope that we can get along, here's what you can do to do your part; to get along with your neighbor.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. 

   Leave your levels and your religion at the door. It doesn't matter what you do for a living, how much money you make, or what your religion is, there are no "chosen people." We are all the same and it's important that we not look down on our fellow earth travelers. Most religions teach this concept but we ignore it at every turn, and we do this because if someone is not like us, that makes them wrong and you're right. Your way is the correct way, and the other person is misguided. So what do you say? You're "holier than thou" so you say, whether out loud or to yourself, "I'll pray for him."
   
   Don't pray for him, pray for yourself. Pray for guidance and direction, and to understand that every human being is just as valuable as you see yourself.

2. Realize that we are all individuals with free will and that we will not always agree. But because we disagree, there is no need to take our disagreements to the street and fight about it. Our behavior is worst than living in the Wild, Wild, West, when guys would take to the streets, stand back to back, take a few steps forward in opposite directions, turn around and shoot. The western or cowboy movies lead us to believe, the quickest draw wins, but the truth of the matter is that most of the time the two gunmen actually killed one another, and that is exactly what we are doing. There are no winners, we are killing each other. How absurd, to live in a civilized society, yet we carry on like barbarians. I often find myself ashamed of the Human Race and what we have become. It's just a downright SHAME. Where is the love? You show it, or fake it, for the couple of hours you're in church, but as soon as you walk out the door, you revert back to your evil, selfish ways, and it's just a crying shame.

3. No man or woman is perfect. We are not perfect in the flesh but our spirits are, or should I say, can be perfected. Learn to read a persons spirit. How? "You know them by their fruits." If turmoil, confusion, stress and strife is the order of your day, that is your spirit. If you find yourself arguing with almost everyone you encounter, that is your spirit. If your life is cluttered and you are constantly in a depressed state, in a state of confusion, that is your spirit.
   
   This does not necessarily make you a bad person, but it can be a clear indication that you have spiritual work to do. Get in touch with your spirit through meditation. My own daughter, from 6 yrs of age to her age now, 13, helped me get a better view of my spirit.

4. Get in touch with your Spirit. Get to know your Spirit and as you do, it will correct itself because it comes from a perfect state. Your Spirit is the essence of God. The so called "evil spirit" comes from the flesh. Do not confuse this with the enlightened Spirit.

5. 

   Learn how to spread Love instead of Hate. For example, the harsh words that many continue to spew about Michael Jackson, even in death. That is simply hate, there is no other way to put it. We are first and foremost, loving Spirits. When we venture too far left, we are spiritually out of line; off kilter, and we suffer the consequences.

Resources

• Tribute to Michael Jackson

[angelanyc]

on 9/4/2009 Great article! Everyone needs to get in touch with their spirit.

[mymind]

on 8/10/2009 Great words of wisdom, nice suggestions!

[greatgreat8]

on 7/15/2009 action speak louder than words

[writedesign]

on 7/12/2009 Oh, what a wonderful article to send around to friends. It's unfortunate that people still fight over disagreements instead of agreeing to disagree. I think Obama and the Pope recently sat down and talked together peacefully - they politely agreed to disagree on many subjects. Wouldn't it be great if the rest of the world could do the same?