Hate Is Blinding!

            A pastor in Ireland told this story: “I was telling a Protestant group of a boy in our city, Paul McGeown, age two, who on summer days loved to go with his mother to the park to watch the birds.  ‘Birdies!  Birdies!’ he would say with glee.  On his way to the park one day, the blast of a terrorist bomb hurled Paul right across the road, inflicting severe head injuries.  For sixteen days, he lay unconscious in the Belfast Children’s Hospital.  A brain surgeon operated, and when little Paul regained consciousness, he could not see.  Then a month later, a miracle happened.  The nurse was holding Paul at the window.  Suddenly he pointed.  ‘Birdies!  Birdies!’  Paul could see again.  What was the reaction from the people to whom I was telling this story?  Nearly all felt happiness for the child whose sight had been restored, but one woman angrily asked, ‘But wasn’t he a Roman Catholic?’”  Hate is mean and blinding. 
            Alex Haley, author of Roots, speaking of hate in his own life said: “Hate at its best will distort you; at its worst it will destroy you; but it will always immobilize you.”  It would be true to say that most of us have dealt with hate in some form; therefore, we know the emotions that it can create.  It’s never good; it alters our pattern of life and distorts a sound mind. 
            Medical science says that hate releases a damaging chemical into our system that sets us up for sickness and premature death.  Whether this is true or not I do know one thing: hate kills a lot of amazing potential. In-other-words, hate doesn’t hurt the person who is being hated, but it destroys the one who is holding the hate inside of himself.  Someone said, “Hating someone is like drinking poison with the hope that the other person dies.”  That’s just how deadly hate is! 
            The remedy for hate is called forgiveness.  It is a medicine that releases all those deadly toxins and brings healing in a rather powerful way.  Forgiveness can’t be purchased or picked up at the local pharmacy.  It is not created in the laboratory.  But is created and developed on the inside of each of us.  For some it is hidden deep down inside, but it is there.  All a person needs to do is look for it, bring it up, submit to it, then act on it.  The results will be a tremendous recovery.  It is amazing what the power of forgiveness can do. 
            Booker T. Washington said, “I will not allow any man to make me lower myself by hating him.”  He is saying that he will not stoop to the level of an animal.  He will never be overcome with hate because hate begets hate.  But he will destroy his enemies by making them his friends.  He will not be controlled by what someone has done to him, but will keep his heart tender and forgiving. He will stay in control of his own castle. The Great Healer said, “Love your enemies bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).  Listen to the Expert and be healed!  You can visit us online for more info at www.JoyChristianMinistries.com.