A line from Yoda (many thanks to George Lucas)

To borrow from Yoda in an old Star Wars movie, "Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering." (At least I think that's the line). So true, so true.

I was recently reading some news, and it got me to thinking.

The things that we say and do have ripple effects. For instance, as a young student, people called me 'nerd' and 'dork' and 'snob'. Ok, fine. I thought to myself, "Self, nerds rule the world. I'm going to get a great education and show them all!" Which I did. And, I've lived a rather exciting life so far! So does that make me a snob? Maybe...

Other kids hear these things growing up and they turn anger inward. They don't love or like themselves. This even happens to adults.

When we make a nasty comment, or say something bad about somebody else (and I'm as guilty as the next person for doing this), it has a ripple effect. So now, let's take a look at Yoda's line.

We tend to fear what we don't understand. Maybe something bad happens in the world so we blame someone we don't really understand. We are angry, and we fear. If people are afraid of something or someone, if they don't understand, then we have mistrust. If the misunderstanding grows, the mistrust grows and we can become full of hate. Right on Yoda, right on.

Things we say may feel like jokes to us, but they can be bitterly painful to others. Words are powerful.

I was helping a friend with some on-line jewelry shopping and came across a bracelet that read, "Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace." The line is from a prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi (13th century). Here's a link: http://secure.jamesavery.com/jewelry/search/product/B-553L/Instrument-of-Peace-Bangle-Bracelet/

We all need to do our very best to be instruments of peace no matter what our faith is, where our home country is, or who we 'are'.

Peace.

And, as a nod of thanks to George Lucas for my borrowing Yoda's line, here's a link:
http://www.starwars.com/