LOVE
“But I’m not like that, this conduct is not part of my character, nor of my ethics.Minds that seek revenge destroy states, while those that seek reconciliation build nations. Walking out the door to my freedom, I knew that if I didn’t leave all the anger, hatred and resentment behind me, I would still be a prisoner.” Nelson Mandella.
We are currently immersed in a world that suddenly feels like a full blown tantrum, because it is. Comparing Nelson Mandela with the current president of the United States seems as stark a difference as any moment in history. There have been countless research projects, books written, films made and millions murdered over the years around similar political leaders – Pol Pot, Adolf Hitler, Augusto Pinochet and Benjamin Netanyahu and a host more. It’s no surprise that the gender gap here is largely in favour of the male species. There will be more to come on Donald Trump if we all survive. The cautionary tale here is how critical parental training and education is in developing universal mature ethics and responsible public morality for the common good. These matters raise the possibility of selfless love and compassion being foundational in a maturing and adult society where generosity, kindness and listening with presence are experienced and respected more than male individualistic bravado and apparent heroism.
The character of a leader is what makes a leader a positive change agent while love finds its expression in the public domain with how the leader sees and acts towards issues of social justice for the marginalised. It will always be the litmus test. I am wearing a T-Shirt that celebrates the 60th anniversary of The Wayside Chapel in Sydney, founded by the former Methodist minister the late Ted Noffs and on the back of the shirt are the words: 60 Years Creating Community With No Us and Them.
My sibblings and I were raised in a fundamentalist Christian home but we were also raised in a home where the Wayside Chapel values were espoused and lived. Love was always seen as welcome, as affirmation and as addressing social injustice. It was not a perfect mix but it was strong and all of us have continued to attempt to live out those values in our lives professionally, in society and with our own families.
Capitalism is not the friend of social justice. It might mask it with the crumbs from the table and tax deductable donations to charities but in general the capitalism we are now immersed in is in over drive racing at a mad stampede pace to prop up the increasing class divide, loveless communities and super consumerism as a mark of reward for skewed work values.
How should we then live and be is a question more and more of us are asking if only as a momentary response to the collapse of the share market and our superannuation funds. Love in daily life I am finding is a value habit to be revisited through meditation and action. Children love as part of being alive. So do some adults. But love as a choice, as a value that is in our hearts and souls is to be cultivated and it is possible to love too much. This apparent contradiction is merely an invitation to take time out not abandoning love to be replaced with narcissitic self-indulgence and entitled consumerism.
What is a difficult choice you have had to make in your work place in respect of social justice towards a work colleague?
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Peter Breen, April 9, 2025.
Photo Credit: Ring of Kerry, Eire, Public Domain.
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