Monday, October 23, 2023

FROM CONFLICT TO COMPASSION: UNLEASHING OUR BETTER ANGELS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

 

FROM CONFLICT TO COMPASSION: UNLEASHING OUR BETTER ANGELS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

In a world where conflict and division seem to be the norm, it's easy to feel like our better angels have been killed off. But perhaps it's time to look for those angels, to search for the good in ourselves and in others.

The Cherokee tale of two wolves comes to mind. In this story, a grandfather tells his grandson that there are two wolves inside each of us, one representing anger, envy, and greed, and the other representing love, kindness, and compassion. The grandson asks which wolf will win the battle, and the grandfather replies, "The one you feed."

It's a powerful message that reminds us that we have a choice in how we treat others and how we react to the world around us. We can choose to feed the wolf of anger and division, or we can choose to feed the wolf of love and unity.

Unfortunately, it seems like many people are choosing to feed the wrong wolf these days. The war in the Holy Land is a prime example of this. Instead of working towards peace and understanding, both sides seem more interested in escalating the conflict and blaming each other for their problems.

But it's not just in the Holy Land where we see this kind of behavior. It's all around us, from political debates to social media arguments. People seem more interested in proving themselves right than in finding common ground with those who disagree.

So how do we find our better angels in a world that seems to be feeding the wrong wolf? It starts with each of us individually. We need to take responsibility for our own actions and attitudes, and work towards being kinder, more compassionate people.

We also need to be willing to listen to others, even if we don't agree with them. Too often we get caught up in our own opinions and refuse to consider other perspectives. But if we want to find common ground and work towards a better world, we need to be open to hearing different viewpoints.

Of course, it's not always easy to be kind and compassionate, especially when we're dealing with people who are angry or hostile towards us. But that's when it's most important to remember the Cherokee tale of two wolves. We can choose to feed the wolf of anger and hate, or we can choose to feed the wolf of love and understanding.

In the end, it all comes down to our choices. We can choose to be part of the problem or part of the solution. We can choose to feed the wrong wolf or look for our better angels. It's up to us.

So let's start looking for those angels, those parts of ourselves that are kind, compassionate, and understanding. Let's work towards building a better world, one small choice at a time. And let's remember that no matter how dark things may seem, there is always hope for a brighter future.