The importance of love and acceptance.
The University at which I work had a bomb threat last week. The entire campus evacuated, and everyone was safe, but it definitely shook up the community – myself included. I am incredibly proud to teach at a school that considers social justice central to its mission, and I am struggling – once again – to understand what fueled such hate.
Perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised given the state of our world right now, but I refuse to follow that train of thought. Why? Because I believe with all of my heart that love and acceptance will triumph over hate.
[bctt tweet=”I have decided to stick with love… Hate is too great a burden to bear. ~Martin Luther King Jr. ” username=”BusyBeingPaula”]
How do I know love wins?
I know because of the grand gesture by 40,000 Bostonians coming together on August 19th to peacefully protest the few dozen who gathered on the Boston Common for a “free speech” rally. That rally was scheduled to last five hours, it ended just after two, and Boston made it clear that “White supremacy has no place in this country.” (read more here).
I also know because of small gestures, like the rainbow peace flags flying proudly around my town, and this sign that I saw in my neighbor’s yard on my Saturday morning run.
[bctt tweet=”No matter where you are from, we’re glad you’re our neighbor.” username=”BusyBeingPaula”]
Yes, there are voices of hate out there, but you know what? They are few in number compared to our many voices of love and acceptance.
The important step now is making our message heard. Big or small, every gesture is important.
Spread the love. Lead by example.
[bctt tweet=”Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs. ~Stephen Covey” username=”BusyBeingPaula”]
If we find our voice, and we continue using it to inspire, to encourage, and to welcome, we will make a difference. As Rob Bell so succinctly explains, “Love wins.”
(If you’re interested: I was able to order that sign online from a website called Welcome Your Neighbors. (www.welcomeyourneighbors.org no affiliate, I just love the message; they also offer free PDFs, which you can print yourself.)
How do you reach out to those in your community? How do you spread the message of love and acceptance? Let me know below!
