Most of us don’t want wars. It’s hard to believe that in our modern civilizations, millions of people still die on the battlefield. Usually, it’s a small group of people in power, not the masses, who make the decisions to go to war. But who are the ones risking their lives on the battlefield?
This week, we saw a miracle when a peace agreement was reached between two societal sects that had been at war for many years. A seemingly hopeless situation was turned around through the conversations and negotiations of leaders from opposing religious philosophies working together. This success required setting aside hatred and giving peace a chance. And it worked.
After the signing, celebrations erupted worldwide. Feelings of hatred turned into joyful expressions of love. Those wishing to end suffering for themselves and others filled the streets with dancing and singing.
We still have a long way to go before we can say that “an ancient hatred has become a present love,” but this is a start. There’s no room for hatred in our world because it only leads to mutual destruction. Peaceful discussion and negotiations are the only ways to bridge the gap. Resentments must be put aside if we are to successfully work together to achieve goals that unite rather than divide.
Choosing love over hatred isn’t easy when someone has endured unimaginable pain and suffering. However, our pain shouldn’t be directed at an entire country or race because of specific perpetrators. The same principle applies to our personal space. Attacking humanity or displacing our miseries onto loved ones because we still carry an old wound toward a friend, parent, sibling, neighbor, or boss blocks love and limits success. When we confront and heal those old wounds, we can rejoice.
We don’t have to agree or give in to each other to love one another. Love, like hate, is a choice. We always have the free will to choose which path to follow. Hatred or love. Revenge or forgiveness. One leads to suffering, the other to peace.
No matter how dark the past, we only have now. Whether the war is external or internal, we can either continue the fight or heal the ancient wounds and enter the holiest place on earth where love resides. Heaven or hell. What will it be?
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Donna Marks is an educator, licensed psychotherapist, and addictions counselor in Palm Beach, Florida. She has worked with over 6,000 clients. Donna’s struggle with addiction brought her to a worldwide search for healing. She became licensed as a Mental Health Counselor in 1987. In 1989, she earned a Doctorate Degree in Adult Education, then became Certified in Addictions, Gestalt Therapy, Psychoanalysis, Hypnosis, and Sex Therapy. Donna developed an award-winning addiction training program at Palm Beach Community College. She co-owns an outpatient treatment program and serves as a consultant to treatment centers. For 36 years, she has taught A Course in Miracles.
Donna is the author of three books: the multi-award-winning title Exit the Maze: One Addiction, One Cause, One Cure, and Learn, Grow, Forgive: A Path to Spiritual Success, The Healing Moment: Seven Paths to Turn Messes into Miracles of Love, and her latest fiction, Fortis & Sapiente – A Tale of Two Lovers Who Successfully Navigate the Murky Waters of Love. Donna is a public speaker and has shared her methods with millions of listeners on podcasts and radio shows.
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