Hide and… hate?

Why it’s easier not to seek

Hate is a rampant emotion in our country right now. It might be towards a political party, a religious group, people of color, the LGTBQ community, women’s rights advocates, or someone else.

What if our hate is the adult version of hiding? What if underneath our self-righteous fury is (legitimate) pain? Perhaps it’s our own suffering and loss. Or maybe it’s the heartache of others. Perhaps it’s our contribution to another’s heartache.

“I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.” — James Baldwin

While hate may temporarily numb the pain, it deepens the wound and prevents healing.

The alternative to hiding is to seek out the cause of our hate. Is it a mask for pain? Acknowledging and feeling pain (to deal with it) is never easy. It hurts and almost certainly takes time. But that’s when healing begins.

What if our courage to deal with pain could help reduce the divisiveness of our country?

Instead of hiding, what if we seek healing?