“The Power of Love”
It seems that the inspiration for a few recent OPU columns has come from phrases or sayings contained in framed artwork that I randomly happen to notice while going through my day. Today’s column, “The Power of Love” falls in line with this once more. I was recently visiting my brother and sister in law up in the northeast and stopped to notice a small framed drawing that was hanging on a wall in their home. I can’t exactly remember what the drawing was but the quote beneath the drawing resonated deep in my heart. It read;
When the power of love becomes stronger than the love of power, it is then that peace among all people will exist
It was a very short and simple phrase but I found it to be extremely profound. The first thing I thought of is that the love of power in many of its forms is at the core of many of the subjects written about each month in the OPU column. Prejudice, bigotry, supremacy and intolerance are all born and bred from the love of power. War, division, and the belief system of its “Us against Them” come from the love of power. The feelings of religious, political or racial superiority all have their roots in the love of power. On the other side of the coin, common respect for our fellow man and woman comes from the power of love. Tolerance, acceptance, and understanding others who are different come from the power of love. Reaching out to care for the broken hearted or those less fortunate comes from the power of love.
The words most often used to describe power are words like strength, might, and force. Power seems to be tied to things like nuclear power or political power and it seems to be a force that brings mostly negative things to our society. When you think of someone who is powerful, does it usually equate to someone or something that is negative or positive? Do those around the world who are seen as being in a position of power promote equality and peace? When used in its negative form, power promotes attitudes such as “I am better than you” and “I am right and you are wrong.” Where the love of power is found, you will often find strains of racism, patriotism, hostility against gays, socio-economic and class warfare, and religious superiority. In the past, it was found in slavery, the inequality of women, segregation and more.
When turned to the other view, the words most often used to describe love would be words like affection, passion and tenderness. It is my belief that love in its highest form can heal the world, mend broken hearts and join human hearts together as one. The love of power promotes tribal boundaries which are powerful dividers in our world. The love of power helps feed prejudice in all of its disguises. The power of love promotes peace, unity and human kindness. It eradicates division, prejudice and all “us vs. them” attitudes.
So after meditating on this simple phrase, I want to put it out there so it can be burned in all of our consciousness minds. Let us all be part of the shift where the consciousness of the world lives and promotes the power of love and that the love of power will soon become extinct, thus bringing into reality peace among all people, from as close as our own neighborhoods to as far as around the world. Peace out.
When the power of love becomes stronger than the love of power, it is then that peace among all people will exist
Jack Bloomfield is the co-founder and executive director of One Planet United, Inc., a non
profit 501(c)3 organization.
One Planet United's mission statement is: To bring unity and understanding to all people through
experiential and educational programs, projects and resources.
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