“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that … Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.” ~ MLK, Jr.

Dr. King was right — not only because he took the stand that was “moral”, but also because he took the stand that FUNCTIONED.

He and those who courageously followed his example proved that it is both practical & effective to extend Love to those who are harming us — he & his proved that “evil” people (or those who are “abusive” &/or “dysfunctional”) are not looking for our energy or our pain, but rather are looking for our anger or our sadness or our fear. They are looking for victims. And when we choose to give them compassionate Love instead, they ultimately have no choice but to look for their “victims” elsewhere …

What is truly fantastic about Dr. King’s example of Peace-fullness is that it not only works against the injustice of political oppression; it not only works in large groups — IT WORKS JUST AS WELL IN ALL OUR RELATIONSHIPS!

When our loved ones or our family members or our coworkers or our bosses or our classmates or even life’s strangers are harming us consciously, the one thing they cannot stand to receive in return is unconditional Love. And if we have the strength to extend raw, unconditional Kindness in response to their selfishness, and when we have the courage to persist in doing so (not to “change them for the better, but merely to be Kind to them), these “dysfunctional” & “abusive” folks are forced to change their behaviors.

Sometimes our Love “wakes them up” — reminding them of their true, caring Selves, whereby they cease being abusive altogether. At the very least, they have no choice but to leave us in Peace and look elsewhere for others who will give them the fear &/or anger that they desire to receive.

And that is what is so wonderful about Dr. King’s rediscovery … It really has nothing at all to do with the more nebulous concepts found in spirituality or ethics. Rather, it is a Truth founded in the very basics of human psychology. It is practical, it is functional, and best of all — it’s Love is transformative; both for those of us who have the courage to give it, as well as for those who are blessed to receive it.

Now THAT is real Grace!
THAT is something we can all use to make this world a better place …
… and we can do so every day!

But don’t take my word for it … Heck, don’t even take Martin Luther King’s word for it. Go and see for yourself how amazing Love is — especially the LOVE that is hardest to give.

“Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love … Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him … The means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek.” ~ MLK, Jr.

Filed under: Wisdoms from the Journey by Scaughdt