Superficial Badges of Equality of Existence

There is one person in the last year that I have struggled to love. When I reference love, I reference the love of Christ, that unconditional love that so many misunderstand and misapply. I have wanted this person to feel pain, to be humiliated, to be shown truthfully to those to whom he lies. I have not desired only good for this person. In fact, I have beseeched heaven for his discomfort.

This is what I have learned: hate can begin with good intentions. I only wanted this person to not insist on winning to the detriment of others; for the sake of peace to concede that which he really didn't want; to not care how others may misperceive, but to conduct himself in a manner of humility, knowing he may be falsely accused. I wanted for this person to seriously consider those whom he was maligning for his own sake, and how it would eventually come full circle; to think of the suasion that he holds and exert it without malice rather than pointing fingers, blaming, misleading, lying.

I learned long ago in a home filled with leather couches, oriental rugs, the latest technology, the pomp of educational achievements on the den walls, people of position and influence flowing through and out our door, that people were blinded by things and by the appearance of good simply by the amount of material wealth a person displayed. Because this person has these things, they certainly aren't capable of misdoing. They are more believable. Why do we have the defendant wear her best dress when facing a judge and jury? We know the power the eyes have over the mind, over facts, over loyalty and sound judgment.

So, to quote not Lord Byron, or Keats, or any of the other pretentious poets that I so love, I go to a more recent man of rhyme: Will Smith.

"Let God deal with the things they do

Cause hate in your heart will consume you, too."

Let me not be consumed and so become that which I despise.