What Saddens Me

What saddens me most about the world today

Is the growth of evil behaviors that occur when people

violate the highest laws given to humanity:

the Ten Commandments and the commandments

taught by Jesus Christ.

When these laws are ignored or dismissed,

the consequences are not abstract.

They appear plainly in the form of conflicts, sufferings,

and divisions among people.

Jesus Christ teaches that He is the way.

His way is not rooted in dominance or self-righteousness,

but in humility and love.

To follow His way means refraining from judging others,

practicing forgiveness, and extending love

even to those who seem unlovable.

Christ's teachings are simple to state,

yet profoundly difficult to live.

Human conflicts, human sufferings, and human bigotry

are among the most painful results

that come from a rejection

of Christ's commandments.

Bigotry, in particular, is often misunderstood.

At its core, bigotry is not merely disagreement or strong conviction.

Rather, a bigot is someone who is intolerably

convinced that he or she is right.

This I-am-right condition is rooted in hubris,

that is, a condition of excessive pride

that blinds individuals as to their own

weaknesses and limitations.

Hubris produces behaviors that are ultimately self-defeating.

Hubris creates enemies

where understanding might otherwise exist.

Hubris breeds hatred instead of dialogue .

It restricts a person’s ability to truly listen

and understand others,

and it blocks the development of empathy.

When empathy is lost, compassion soon follows,

and relationships, both personal and societal,

begin to deterirate.

Beyond individual harm,

hubris damages society as a whole.

It restricts growth opportunities

not only for those who suffer under it,

but also for those who practice it.

Perhaps many of us are bigots.

Our vocal bigotry damages others

regarding their diversity

of thoughts, experiences, and expressions,

and the natural development of variety.

When pride is part of our nature and practice,

we restrict the freedom of others

because we refuse to acknowledge

their dignity and their worth.

Men and women must be willing to recognize

that no individual understands all truth.

We all "see through a glass darkly."

For these reasons, hubris is a loathsome condition.

It stands in direct opposition to the

teachings of Jesus Christ,

whose ways call for

humility, forgiveness, and love.

What saddens me is not merely

that these virtues are difficult,

but that these virtues are often ignored,

yet these ancient yet modern virtues

should put us on a path

toward healing,

understanding,

and a more humane society.