Oppressed peoples may go to seemingly extreme lengths in the pursuit of Freedom and Justice. But individuals and greedy societies can take brutal measures in vain pursuits of wealth/power, fearful assault, or erroneous retaliation. These egoistic pursuits, when paired with a lack of respect for Life, have led to historic atrocities such as the massacre and forced removal of Indigenous Caribbean and American tribes, the enslavement of African natives, and the many wars waged by wealthier countries on developing, non-white societies out of self-interest, fear, or prejudice.
In our personal lives, these attacks take on the form of spiritual warfare – where we see powerful individuals or organizations subjugate and exploit the less fortunate for personal gain, drive out or “box in” those perceived not to fit in, or attack innocents out of fear, jealously, or hatred. Whether on a global or personal scale, these heinous acts all stem from the misuse of power (financial, physical, social, or spiritual) by individuals or groups of individuals. And when innocents are thrust into war or cast into bondage against our will and our Peace is stolen from us by people in positions of power, we either: fight back against these powers to regain our Peace and Freedom, attempt to escape from the situation all together, or lose all Hope and accept misery while awaiting inevitable demise.
Of course, it is natural to be fearful of chaos never ending when the battles drag on day after day and when there appears to be no escape from our current desolation. But as someone who has resorted to all three of these at some point in my life, I can guarantee that hopelessness is a self-defeating state which only breeds more misery. In these moments of desperation, we must remember that change is life’s only constant. Just as everything else in life comes to an end – just as the Sun rises anew each day – trust that the darkness we may be experiencing in our lives will inevitably end as well.
For those of us that are thrust into ‘war’ by malignant forces, being offered sanctuary is an invaluable gift. Though being displaced from one’s home brings its own set of emotional and psychological challenges, being gifted sanctuary amid extreme upheaval gives one the space to gain at least a semblance of peace back (as the threat of direct attack is removed). I know that we are each busy fighting our own battles, but that does not mean we cannot extend a helping hand to those less fortunate we come across along the way.
So let us offer rest and sanctuary to those in need when we are able. Let us trust that Divine Justice will prevail against all those who consciously attack and destroy innocent lives. And if we do not have the strength to fight back at the moment, if we have no place to run or escape too, let us maintain Hope that help and relief will be sent our way.
