When the Hate Finds the Gate...

Hate towards other people...

Everyone has a capacity to hate others. But hate can slowly poison your life. Many times it enters our hearts discreetly.  We might even miss the moment.
I used to hate a few people. By God's grace, I don't hate them anymore. A heart free of hatred is one of the best gifts.
The hate came into my life when I was young--around the age of nine, it might have been earlier, but it manifested itself when I was nine years old.

The manifestation

The hate doesn't manifest itself in the same way all the time. Sometimes it was so subtle, it seemed as if there was no hate.Other times it just out there in its full manifestation. Just because hatred doesn't manifest it doesn't indicate the absence. Usually, it starts to show in small ways.

1. Constant desire to avoid someone 
2. Constantly criticizing the person
3. When something goes wrong with a person and the immediate response--well they brought it upon themselves
4. When you end up in the room with someone whom "you can't stand". You will talk to others but not to that individual. 
5. When you have to talk to that person, you make it is the shortest conversation possible
6. Indifference to the suffering of others
7. You wish something bad will happen to that individual
8. You become glad when something bad does happen
9. You want to get "even" with the individual 
10. When somebody points out that you might have a problem with the individual, you get all defensive-- from 'this is none of your business' to "get out, you have no idea what's going on"

If we don't take care of the hatred, it will spread all over our lives. It will affect the relationships with others, our behavior, and other life aspects.
Just because we are good at showing good side outwards, doesn't mean that there is no hatred inside. We have to examine our hearts constantly. Hatred feeds on our ego, pride, and fear. 

Hate leaves the heart

At some point, I realized that I couldn't go like that. But it's much harder t get rid of the hate. It took years, many tears and heartbreaks. You see--hate debilitates the ability to love. Sometimes I wonder, what would have been if there were no hate? It would have been better. However, our past cannot be undone. I still have few scars from the hatred. I am still in the process of healing. The medicine I a taking is forgiveness. When someone offends us, they offend God first and foremost. If God forgives, we ought as well.

Paris tragedy

My heart goes to France. The attacks that happened--not just in Paris, but all over the world-- is the result of the hatred. The world is watching how we as Christians will respond. If we respond with hate, we will give haters more excuses to hate us. If we respond with love, we will debunk their tactics.

 They wouldn't be able to blame us for the hatred.
Now is the time when church can shine the light into darkness.