A Christmas prayer for our nation
As I contemplate the upcoming Christmas season, I am reminded that it is supposed to be a season of “peace on earth and good will toward men.” One doesn’t have to look very far in our country and in our world to observe that this is not the case. When I attempt to analyze the variables that have contributed to our current condition, I am left with three essential lacks or deficits that have led to our current fractious condition:
• The first is a lack of compassion. As a nation, we appear to be enamored with the notion of attack and revenge, mostly against those who look, think or have different political views than we do. There is a saying that “If you want revenge, you better dig two graves.” If our human history teaches us anything, it shows us that attack invariably begets attack.
Jesus, the reason for the Christmas season, urged us to turn the other cheek. I see very little of this going on currently in our nation or in our world. Attack results in increasingly escalating attacks. It seems that we are almost looking to be offended. Jesus taught us to “love our enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” This is the essence of compassion, and if we are to heal as a nation and a world, we need to have more compassion for those who disagree with us politically or in any other way.
Abraham Lincoln said “A house divided against itself cannot stand” at the height of the Civil War, and today, we find ourselves similarly divided. Unless we start treating each other with compassion and respect, our great nation will not stand.
• The second thing we are in dire need of is forgiveness. We seem to have a neurotic need to hold onto every perceived slight and hurt.
The Course in Miracles
says “The holiest place on earth is where an ancient hatred has become a present love.” There is far too much hatred on both sides of political, racial and socioeconomic issues. We desperately need to forgive ourselves and others for all of the ancient and present hates that exist in our society.
Hate is a cancer that erodes from within. Our nation appears to be in a very advanced stage of this terrible disease, but I don’t believe it is terminal yet. I believe that our nation can rise again more united and stronger than ever, but first, we need to develop the heart, mind and will to forgive.
• Last, but certainly not least, we need love. We need to love each other enough to be able to transcend our perceived differences.
We need to embrace love rather than fear, because fear is the most destructive force in the universe. It blinds us and leads us to look upon one another in extremely distorted ways. Joel Goldsmith, the famed spiritual writer, had a very unique interpretation of the Ninth Commandment. He said that unless we see our brother as a child of God, we are bearing false witness against our neighbor.
My prayer for our nation and our world is that we all can begin to see each other as children of God during this Christmas season and beyond. It is by far the greatest gift you can receive and the greatest gift you can give. Dare to give this greatest gift, for our nation and our world have never needed it more.
Dr. Raymond Angelini of New Horizons Coaching has been in private practice for 30 years in Saratoga Springs. He specializes in assisting individuals in finding and sustaining careers that are more rewarding, lifeenhancing and in keeping with one’s personal and spiritual values. For more information, email rayangel1@live.com or visit his website at www. newhorizonscoaching.com.