Seeds of Love and Forgiveness

Active nonviolence asks us to recognize and respect the sacred in every person and all creation, including ourselves. We accept ourselves fully, with our gifts and our limitations, knowing we are accepted by God. What we resent in others reflects what we struggle to admit in ourselves. To renounce dualism, the "we-they" mentality (Manicheism). This divides us into "good people/bad people" and allows us to demonize the adversary. It is the root of authoritarian and exclusivist behavior. It generates racism and makes possible conflicts and wars. We address fear with love, understanding that building the Beloved Community is a collective effort, never done alone. Our care for creation is an act of love, not control, and its destruction is a spiritual issue. We must slow down, be patient, and plant seeds of love and forgiveness in ourselves and others, growing in compassion and joy.

May we renounce division, embrace love,
and sow the seeds of compassion and unity
in ourselves and the world.

(inspired by Rosemary Lynch and Alain Richard, The Decalogue for a Spirituality of Nonviolence)