In March of 2000, I was asked to do a service for lent. Knowing what this time meant to those of a religious mind, I decided to direct my talk toward giving up one of those things that we truly love to do as a people: we love to hate.

As I continued with my talk, I spoke on Columbine, the use of an old English word for stingy, used by a politician in DC who was removed for its use, and how I, myself was no longer going to use the standard Bible as it is because it has messages of hate in. I instead was going to use Voices of Our Ancestors, a book of Cherokee teachings since it did not contain them.  The message I was giving was that during lent, we should truly practice giving up hate during that time. That hate in its energy and message is not truly something we need or should practice, but instead, if we would practice love, compassion, understanding, happiness, and a host of other positive energies, we would truly be better people.  Well little did I know, that the message fell on one particular person's deaf ear.  They truly enjoyed hate so much that they went to the Pastor and complained and said that I had said to everyone to give up the use of the Bible, which I did not, I only said that I was going to do so because of what was contained in it.  But no word was said to me for an entire year and I was not asked about what I had said. The recording that was made was never listened to and I was not allowed back on the platform to speak.  After being asked after a year, I refused to speak at the church ever again. My reason was simply, that if one person can have such an impact on the Church and you believed what they said without asking me, that is no place for me. I will find another way.

This is why I started RISE. I do not love hate. Growing up, my mother would always say, never say hate to anyone or really anything, because you can never take it back. If you hate a thing and you mean it, you have put energy into the word that separates you from it, almost creating a barrier.  I can say I do not like a thing, but never hate it.  I wanted to be able to work with and for people who are looking to take a better path, a better way in life.  The people who do are drawn to that energy, the ones not, are repelled.  I love my belief in spirituality. It has helped me grow as a person. It has saved my life on several occasions and my belief has assured me that even in the darkest of times, there is light.  

This time in the world is filled with a lot of darkness and a lot of people who are truly in the midst of loving hate, though they may say they do not, when you see the selfishness, bigotry, closed-mindedness, prejudice and so much more in the world, it has a very strong basis of some versions of hate, those people will believe it is right, at least for them.  No one can truly change them through hate, we can only change things through love.  Hate is truly a repellant. Love is attracting.  Hate creates separation, Love creates harmony. If you truly want good in your life start practicing and loving love.  Use love unconditionally and let it direct your life toward the good.  

Of course, there will be people who will say this is unrealistic, but that is what hate does. It has pushed so much out of our lives that when we are in the midst of it, we only see it. It seems to be the only thing that ever is or was in our lives. It is blinding. But if you practice through love, it is revealing and energizing. It can push away the darkness and confusion and lead you to truly attract what you want. 

So during February, especially since it is the month that has Valentine's Day. Try to practice more love in your life. Let it give you something more than what you don't have. Let it give you all the gifts it can bring. Let Love in more and stop contributing to the energies, you do not want.

Happy February,

Steven