by Michelle Maynard Koenig

I will permit no man to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him. ~ Booker T. Washington

Photographic Art by Arnaud Bertrande

Peering into the looking glass of “ago,” I witness myself saying or thinking “I hate thieves,” “I hate liars,” “I hate hypocrites,” “I hate insincerity,” “I hate people who kill,” and “I hate people who hate,” “I hate myself,” etc.  I chuckle aloud.  What in the world was I saying and/and or thinking and why? How completely ludicrous it seems now looking back.

I realize as I evolve  my awareness and clarity expands. I don’t have much use for the word “hate” in my vocabulary today. Don’t get me wrong, I am not exempt from knee-jerk reactions to situations that are not so positive and, frankly, just down right uncomfortable. The difference is that today I look past the actual word “hate” and look for the intention or energy behind it. What can I learn about myself?

It is challenging to admit the capacity of hate exists within me.

More likely than not, we have all killed, whether it be a living organism or inanimate object – how many flies or spiders have we whacked? More likely than not, we have all lied, been deceitful, or manipulative, whether it be as simple as telling a child Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny truly exists, replying we are fine when we are challenged with something, or playing hooky from work or school.  More likely than not, we have all worn a mask on one occasion or another, but held opposite feelings inside; sometimes able to talk the talk but not walk the walk. More likely than not, we have all stolen, whether it be an idea,  a pen from the office, or not returning money unknowingly dropped from a person’s pocket, etc. So, when I hear the statement “I hate her because …” or “I hate him because …,” what I understand being conveyed is “I am uncomfortable with this person’s words or actions because I, too, have the capacity to say and do the same thing and it makes me uncomfortable to have to admit it.”

To recognize hate is to have experienced hate, to have given hate, and/or to have received hate. To recognize love is to have experienced love, to have given love, to have received love. To recognize truth is to have experienced truth, to have given truth, and to have received truth. 

If you hate a person, you hate something in him that is part of yourself. What isn’t part of ourselves doesn’t disturb us. ~Herman Hesse

Pointing fingers is like a mirror. If I choose to judge or point fingers, then I can expect the truth will reflect back to me.   Been there, done that. Quite honestly, I have no room (or time) in my life for hate when it comes knocking at my door. I rather spend the moments of my life in, of, and about love.