As I was pondering my next blog entry of 2008 I thought I'd discuss my feelings on fear based living verses living a love based existence. Here in the United States we have unfortunately become accustomed to living in fear of many things especially since 911. September 11th, as horrible as it was has become a tool to drive fear into the people of this country, simply raising and lowering the terrorist threat level our minds are driven back to the horrible events of 911 and the lingering fear that if we do not hang on every word of our leaders, support the surge, fight the axis of evil and so on that their are hoards of terrorists waiting to consume our country and convert it to radical Islam. These events have been used as weapons themselves to keep our country in line by means of fear. Forgive me if I'm offending anyone, but this is how I feel, that the American people are pawns in a nasty game, held in fear.

Controlled behavior is not necessarily good behavior; it's simply controlled, subdued. We have seen this in Iraq, citizens changing loyalties faster than one can blink an eye, and all because of a shift of power one direction or the other. To many Iraqis safety lies in the one who has the most power. This very moment a terrible slaughter is happening In Kenya, why? Because of ehtnic fears, fear forces human beings to do wicked things, to destroy each other.

The one who lives a fear based existence feels out of control, powerless and often times this fear leads to violence as a way to get noticed, a way to gain control, a way to gain respect and a name as seen in light of some of the recent school shooters, they believe they represent the powerless, the weak, the down trodden and violence is their way to gain control.

So what about love? To quote from the movie "The Mission", "If might is right then there is no room for love in this world". Love, what does it mean to live an existence based on love? The one who loves humbly loves his or her self, not in a conceited manner, but as one who knows who they are. The one who loves accepts that they are not perfect; they accept their imperfections as gifts, tools to help others heal.

The one who loves is able to forgive themselves for all their shortcomings and forgive those who have caused them hurt, they can freely ask forgiveness for the hurt they have caused others and accept the response that they receive. The one who loves does not judge based on ethnicity, sexual preference, financial status, the one who loves sees all human beings as his or her equal. The one who loves shows compassion, not pity, a compassionate person is not afraid to get down in the trenches where the pain is setting aside social status or race. A loved based existence is an outward existence of sharing, of building up instead of tearing down. Love does not need to control people or manipulate, it is non judgmental.

So this year lets try to be people who love even with all of the fear mongering going on in the world, love is much stronger than fear, love is much stronger than death, let's turn the tides in 2008.