Folks one of life’s mysteries, for me, is why mankind spends so much time pointing out our differences and so little time stressing our similarities. Could it be that we are so enthralled with our looks, our intelligence, our beliefs and our entire culture that we imagine we are superior human beings and the rest of civilization would be so much better if they were like us?

This can and does happen within families, churches, communities and countries throughout the world. If this attitude is carried to the extreme, divisions occur and trouble mounts. Families are torn apart, churches split and countries rave and rant until war breaks out.

If we go back in recorded history we see examples of how our, holier than thou attitude, may have been one of the causes of the fighting, killing and destruction we have brought upon ourselves.

The reasons for such violent actions have been given different names as justification for our behavior. Religion, acquisition of land, freedom, to civilize the heathen and folks I could go on and on. Please don’t misunderstand me. Some of these reasons have been honorable and, at the time, needed to be taken. Be that as it may, my question is, did we make a reasonable effort to solve the problem by other methods? Perhaps, just perhaps there may have been a time or two when the real reasons were far different than the stated ones.

Never-the-less mankind goes stumbling along making mistake after mistake and ends up fighting another war. Many of us only give lip service to loving our enemies or even our neighbors as ourselves. I seem to remember reading an admonition somewhere which tells us that blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.

Hmmmmm… God help us all!

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