“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
Have you ever been in total darkness? Years ago I visited Port Arthur in Tasmania….it was a penal settlement and the isolation cell was designed so that when you were in it there was a total absence of light….no matter how long you were in it your eyes would not adjust -there were no greys or patches of lighter dark…the dark was so intense that you could feel it.
Total darkness is terrifying and overpowering and yet the smallest amount of light drives it back. Light brings hope and absence of fear- it drives away the darkness and gladens the heart.
Hate is like that too. The only thing that can drive away hate is love. Not the selfish sort of love that seeks to tie to itself but that pure love that wants the best for the other.Love that builds up and encourages drives away hate and love like hate is contagious when spread.
‘Love has in it no element of fear; but perfect love drives away fear, because fear involves pain, and if a man gives way to fear, there is something imperfect in his love.’ 1 John 4:18
2 Comments
November 22, 2009 at 4:27 pm
I experience a lot less stress these days, but a few years ago, I was very worried. Things I do now to make it easier to have less stress in my life is to give myself moments alone.. away from distractions, noise, kids.. To enjoy a good cup of coffee or even better, tea.. to work on something I enjoy, like a new design or one of my websites.. watch a favorite movie (best choice would be a comedy or some light-hearted theme).. and probably the best thing of all to do is just to try to not hold things in. Let it go and it will all work out in the end.
December 1, 2009 at 5:26 am
Great advice Karlyn. We NEED to take time out for our health and its so easy to say I can’t because I have to do this or that…..if we don’t take time out to de-stress we’ll end up not being able to do anything well.
Kathie