Hate

Country singer, Eric Church wrote and sings “…I’d hang hate so that it can’t be heard.  If I could only kill a word.”  The lyrics to “Kill a Word” attempt to show all the words and actions that exemplify “hate.”

Hate is all around us.  It’s part of human nature.  It’s one of the earliest emotions children feel.  And hate is prevalent in all cultures.  It’s popular in literature, TV and movies.  In fact, the media promotes hate to sell its products.

How come?  It doesn’t make us feel good—the opposite, in fact.

But it’s a lie.  Don’t believe it.  Hate will destroy you.  It cause you to suffer, no one else.  The internal physiological effects of anger and hate actually put you into an emotional prison.  You are locked into a personal cell of rage—plotting revenge and thinking  it justice.  Counting slights and offenses that you have personally internalized.

No one knows what you are thinking and feeling.  Hate is your personal response to something you see as an egregious offense.  You have chosen to keep and nurture this harmful emotion.  In a perverse way, you enjoy it.  An old Indian tale explains my thoughts:

A Cherokee grandfather was teaching his grandson about life:

“A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.
“It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.  One is evil—he is anger, envy, hurt and hate.”  Grandfather continued, “The other is good—he is forgiveness, peace, love, serenity, humility, kindness, empathy, generosity, and compassion.
     The same fight is going on inside you—and inside every other person, too.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute.  Then he asked, “Which wolf will win?”

Grandfather simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Hate is a choice.  You have to choose to stop feeding it.  You need to choose to free yourself from your own mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health.