Hate Obscures The Face Of God
“I feel sorry for anybody that could let hate wrap them up. Ain’t no such thing as I can hate anybody and hope to see God’s face.” ~ Fannie Lou Hamer
When a baby is born into the world, the very first thing that it craves is love. The love of mother and father gives the baby assurance and peace. If love is withheld, the baby will not develop properly. If love is totally absent, there is a good chance that the baby will fail to thrive and pass away. Love is crucial.
Children learn to love from their parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles and a whole host of other people. They learn to love and they learn to hate by the example of others. If a child is raised in love, that child will be well-adjusted and have minimal problems growing up. If, on the other hand, a child is raised to hate, problems will abound.
Hatred obscures reality. If we hate, we are blind. Blind to the reality of another. Blind to the truth. Blind to love. Blind to God. Hatred sets us down the wrong path and, once entrenched, it is hard to get off of that path.
Hatred is generally at the source of bigotry, racism, and violence. Hatred seeks to do harm to another. In that, God is not and cannot be present. God does not embody violence or harm. God embodies love and concern. If someone is wrapped up in hate, that person will reject love and concern. Consequently, that person will reject God.
FAITH ACTION: Ask God to help you rid yourself of any hatred you might hold toward others.