More shootings? It’s hard to believe, and yet it isn’t. Bandaids do not heal anything. They cover the wound and make us blind to it. It’s still there and until we get that and really look at the wound, this violence is not going to end.

The dis-ease that lies beneath these shootings is self-hatred. It is voices crying out in anguish, looking for a way to let out that self-hatred, aiming it at the outside when all along it is raging within.

Yes, take away the automatic rifles and lessen the damage. But, what then? We are spiritually blind to what is really going on. When Albert Einstein stated that he didn’t know what WWIII would be fought with, but that WWIV would be fought with sticks and stones, he was right. Whether we fight or hurt with sticks, stones, or automatic rifles, it is the deep reason for wanting to inflict hurt that needs to be addressed.

We do know this, and, yes, it seems insurmountable as we think of so many troubled people and issues in the world, but there is a way. It is all of us working on our own lives and being examples of love and truth.  When we are examples, others will want what we have – peace of mind, happiness, loving existence. We will put that into the world in deeds and consciousness.

We need spiritual solutions: Love, forgiveness, people living their passions, nurturing creativity in our children, fostering self-esteem, living in compassion for all people, not just those we like, getting involved in our communities in a positive way, serving where we are needed, etc., etc., etc. This list could fill a book.

Let us start with one thing today – one thing we can do right where we are.  As Mother Teresa put it, “Grow where you are planted” and “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.’, and ‘Peace begins with a smile…”

I send more than my love and prayers today to Texas. I promise to live my life to an even higher level of caring and love today right where I am.

Love and Aloha,

Rev. Rita