I’ve seen the devil. He, and she, can be our neighbor. He sometimes poses as a friend. Sadly, he can even be a family member. He has the ability to invade the most sacred of people. He causes pain and suffering that is hard to see in others, let alone bare within ourselves. We see the mark of his hard hitting anger and hate. It is left as a hand print on a small child, an elderly patron, or any one of us waking up to face our daily lives. Often the imprint left behind is invisible to the eye, but unmistakeable in the carnage he leaves behind. He lives in the drug, the drug maker, the drug seller. He resides in the angry boss, the controlling spouse, the abusive parent. He resides in the moments we give up to him with hate or scorn. We open the door, and he walks right in. He can overwhelm and over power the best of any of us.
I’ve seen the hero. And he and she is Love. The voice of our friends. Our neighbors. The voice of the sibling. The parent. The grandparent. The voice of the stranger. The voice that says “I love you”. The voice that says “I will help you”. The voice that says “I am here” even when you feel alone. You can hear Him in the teacher who says “I know you can do this”. The co-worker who says “I will help you”. You can see the Hero in the community who gathers together to feed, to weep, to help. The Hero is the one who stands up to the devil, and bravery is the courage that love is.
There are moments in my life when I am so full of hate towards the devil I see or the presence that I feel, that I open my own door to the devil, and nearly invite him in. I realize I won’t win against him with my own hate. I can only beat him with love.
I have to love him to death, because it is the only thing that will kill him.
Every day I see the result of his work. Injured children. Abandoned children. Elderly with no food, no heat, no one to talk to. People scared of being alone. People scared of being with someone, anyone, else. Friends and family who fall out and don’t fully understand why. People, hurting, just hurting and unhealing.
But every day, every single day of my life, I have seen the grace and dignity of people who will not give up. People who spread their love, knowing the only way to recoup any love is to give it away. Every time I see the face of hate, I am sure to find myself surrounded by faces of love. I have seen those who did not have the strength to reach out or stand up, be helped up by someone else who had the love to kneel down with them, and assist them. Or exist with them where they are.
I’ve seen the devil. I mourn over what the devil has done, what he is capable of. But I have the gift of faith. Faith in me, faith in you, faith in the strength of love. I’m tired of wasting precious life moments looking in the face of the devil. I don’t ever want to see him again.
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An absolutely glorious article Colleen, I applaud your every word….. you deserve a glorious song to go with your verse……enjoy….
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Thank you very much Ivor. I appreciate YOUR words and the gift of the music.
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Colleen I cannot tell you how I felt as I was reading these words. So MANY emotions. I too chose Love. When I was 13 and living with the devil of all devils. That Love never left me. And now, that devil us 93 years old. Still quite a devil, but still loved by me. It’s hard to love the devil, but we can do it. I chose live over hate. Many don’t understand me. But it is the only way. May we ALL choise love a d not hate today. Thankyou for baring your soul Colleen.
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Thank you Lorraine. I wrote this many years ago but wanted to bring it forward to today. I am glad there are those like you who choose love over hate.
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Me too! You’ve wrote it so beautiful. Literally felt this with heart. 🧡🙏
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Thank you Krishnayogini. That is a wonderful comment.
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very beautiful words!!! Hate creates hatred and love creates love. It’s a simple calculation. When I react with hatred for hatred, I increase hatred, not love. The devil is happy about anyone who hates, no matter who he hates.
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That is a fantastic statement Anie! Thank you!
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So well said, Colleen. Thank you.
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Thank you Paulette.
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Beautiful, Colleen. So heart achingly beautiful. I choose Love too ❤
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Thank you OB, for the comment and your choices.
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Your faith allows many the power to battle, MBC.
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I’m loving these comments MBM. They just show me how much we are all alike in regards to the strength of power and faith.
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Wow! Deep stuff! Important stuff! Real stuff! Well said lady!
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Thank you Jodi !
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Wow! Very apt for today’s messy world.
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I brought it forward from a few years back Peter. Just struck me when I came across it again. Thank you.
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So beautiful and true. I too never want to see the devil again. I am finding that it is all about my ability to stay present with love, to see the soul of the devil for the goodness he/she doesn’t see yet …
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That is a gorgeous comment Infinite. thank you!
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There is a never exhaustive supply of pain and torment in this world, isn’t there, Colleen! I think we need to observe it and do what we can to apply mercy in the situations where we can add a little blessing to the brokenness. But then our focus needs to shift to the brave and courageous and “healers” of all types. It’s the only way I can keep from despair!
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Debra I appreciate this comment. For all of the despair and angst, there ARE the brave and courageous. Many who don’t even recognize their courage in their attempts to just keep going, to get up and move. To do what they can. They, we, battle that despair every day. And I think we win.
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Beautifully well written and so very sad but true. I’m still fighting to get a grasp on all my demons unfortunately. It’s also one of the main reasons why I felt the need to begin writing/blogging.
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I think I understand what you mean, about why you started blogging. I try to write about something every day, from my day. To make me pay attention. Also, when I write about things needing changed, it’s a reminder to ME to be a better person (not to others).
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