Dr. Thomas Maples

Inspiration

The Philosopher’s Corner

I don’t think it gets any more clearer than what Martin Luther King and Jesus Christ have to say here. Two men, one vision. Love. Love one another. Love as a direct answer to its absence… the concept of hatred.

What the hell are we doing America? Where did our core values go?

I will not assume sides in what is going on here. I never do. For in doing so, it paralyzes the inner capacity psyche has to grow. And growing out of this infantile need to polarize is exactly what is needed in this age, where darkness seems to be spreading at the expense of illumination. But the psyche’s capacity to grow does not occur in a vacuum of fascist, one sided ideologies, of which both sides of the aisle are deeply guilty. Instead, the growth psyche incurs develops from a sense of Love; but this Love does not exist without hate. It is the flip side of the same coin.

Hate is the absence of love… a loving compassion for the human condition. Love is a willingness to learn, to grown in its embracing nature, to grow in faithful belief towards something greater than what is present in the here and now. These are the values we need to teach children, who by the way are being psychologically traumatized, tormented, and terrorized by a growing infantile psychological condition adults seem to be afflicted by actions over the past few generations.

The dual nature of Faith is not without history. The vengeful Judaic God that stands at the forefront of Christianity is well documented. The Ancient Romans were also well aware of this in their construction of the God Janus, whom, by the way, the month of January is named. From this God, we get such great, collective traditions called resolutions, or the act of letting go of the old in order to welcome in the new. But what the hell are we welcoming into our lives? More hatred… but to what end?

When I watch the great speeches of Martin Luther King, I am reminded of a man that got the job done. He was willing to work, to sacrifice, and to create great inroads of change through love. We celebrate his day, but not days of those who based their work upon hatred and violence. Why?

Possibly because at the core of our being exists that need to find harmony, release, and illumination. Those that perpetuate violence to any end may be infamously remembered, but their vision is long forgotten because violence at its core does not resonate with the human psyche. We know, it just creates more violence. Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. That was the law of old. But where does that leave us. Toothless, blind, fools fighting for vengeance versus taking action with intent to correct problems inclusive of growth from both sides of the coin.

Jesus gave one commandment, and I think it bears repeating here. “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” That is the core of his ministry, the message he gave to his 12 disciples, and a royal road into the psychological growth present in one’s capacity to move beyond those humanly hateful feelings into the innate nature we have to embrace love. I have never seen a baby that’s first moments were filled with hateful contempt. Have You?

Love one another… Through love, there is great wisdom to be found. Wouldn’t you agree?

With prayers and blessings during this time of unrest. Believe… Achieve… Advance Confidently in the Direction of Your Dreams.

Dr. Tom