All of us have probably had someone say to us, “just accept it,” which sounds like something a parent would say while giving a bitter spoonful of medicine. It can bring out our feisty side which resists because it sounds like giving up, or caving in, or being forced to do something we don’t have a choice about or want to do. Acceptance is a word we don’t talk much about, but it can have a great impact on our life.
————
I had already written those words when the news came in about the tragic murder of Charlie Kirk yesterday. Whether you agree or disagree with his message, the fact is he died a martyr’s death for standing up for his beliefs. As the news spread, so did the response. Immediately there was a line drawn between those who grieved for his death and those who, like someone I don’t know very well on Facebook said, “have no empathy for the victim.”
It made me think about hatred and where it leads. There’s a lot of it in our world today. In fact today is 9/11, another day we will never forget. I don’t need to write a list of hate crimes that have happened in our lifetime, not to mention throughout history. We already know. Charlie’s death was one of them. Hate creates more hate and will continue to, unless it stops with each of us – in our actions, how we treat each other, and in our speech.
There will always be two sides to a coin. But both sides are part of the same coin and co-exist, one facing one way and one facing the other. Back-to-back they share the same space. Their “lives” touch. If we think of people all over the world like coins divided into two sides over religion, borders, politics, beliefs, etc., their lives also touch. One side never has the right to murder or abuse the other. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”’
So returning to the path of today’s topic of Acceptance, by way of a detour from the headlines, the message comes together now with a new perspective. We have free will. We can realize that yes, there are times we must defend ourselves against the attacks of an enemy, but we become the enemy if we are the one attacking. A person who may never pick up a gun and shoot someone may also be a person who speaks venomous words of hate speech that fans the flame and only adds to the division. That’s a big part of why we are seeing hatred grow. Obviously, this is a complex topic, and I would never mean to disregard the fact that some people become abusers, because they themselves have been abused. Some people have been hurt so badly all they can see as a means to an end is to hurt someone or something else. Others act out of violence because they have mental health and pathological anger issues.
As it’s been since the beginning of time, there will be conflicts and disagreements with each other. What we do with it makes all the difference.
- What if we laid down our weapons and words and agreed to disagree and move on, two sides of the same coin coexisting for the good of the whole.
- What if we prayed for each other instead?
- What if we chose peace and were the first to extinguish the fire?
Acceptance isn’t “caving in” or giving up. Good will always be in conflict with bad. Truth will always be in conflict with lies. But escalating into violence is never the answer. Some will believe a lie is truth, others will believe truth is a lie, and others will seek pure truth without bringing their own bias or agenda to their search for it. It’s the word “seek” that makes a difference here. Truth stands alone. What will you do when you find it?
As I said at the beginning, acceptance can have a great impact on our lives – and our world. To accept that everyone won’t agree on everything and settle that as a basic fact – and let it go – is a foundation for finding what we have in common instead, like love for our families and children. We are all people created in the image of God and in Him we can find peace and love for each other.
RESET HIGHER: Take a few moments to meditate on these verses written by the Apostle Paul to believers as the example for us to follow of God’s plan, instead of what our culture says. There’s a profound difference. As you do, say a prayer for deep understanding:
“Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and He lives in all of us. Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.”
Colossians 3:10-15 (NLT)
