One of the most difficult things in life is to have empathy for another human being that in your opinion has none.

I hope I can always find empathy in myself for people who are law breakers, hateful, or even murderous. Each person has lived different experiences and reach different conclusions about right and wrong. Some are incurably mentally ill.

I will not make excuses for any of them and empathy is not excusing them. I would hold them fully accountable for their actions to the fullest extent of the law. I also believe in defending myself and innocent human beings. In my mind to not defend myself in a murderous situation is suicide, and to not defend an innocent one is murder.

Holding a person accountable in my opinion is not hate and it is entirely possible to forgive a person even as you punish them. (Raising my own kids comes to my mind)

Empathy is recognizing that some people are horrendous human beings, holding them fully accountable for their actions, not with hate or malice but instead with an understanding that we can never fully understand another humans mind.

I have not had a family member murdered or tortured. I have not been brutally attacked or have had my life threatened. I hope that if I suffer or my loved ones suffer, or if I see the suffering of any human beings, it will not cause me to become bitter or change my mind. I think I can understand how people become bitter, but hope I would not.

I can see how some will question how it could ever be possible to love or have empathy for certain people. A person may ask why should they have empathy, love, or sympathy for such horrible people.

Some people do not believe in love, empathy, or sympathy, or only apply it as they see fit and they have their own free will.

My understanding is that real love is unconditional, and while that may seem irrational, I have to ask myself if it is not unconditional than how can it be called love at all?

Love and hate are learned behaviors. We learn from each other. I need to practice what I preach.

I can see how someone would say there is no hope for this world. I have to say as long as there is love there is hope.

I’ve used these lyrics from “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” before to explain:
“And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”

I do understand that you may not believe any of this or say this is not the way the world is.
I would say if you do not believe love will prevail than there cannot possibly be any hope for the people of this world and I feel sorry for you because that must be an awful feeling.

This is a prayer for myself and also a prayer for the world, and while love to some may seem like an option, I do not believe it can possibly be. “The wrong shall fail, the right prevail. With peace on earth, good will to men.”

MrLarry