Where There Is Hatred Let Me Sow Love,

Today we focus on words taken from the Prayer of St. Francis, "Where there is hatred, let me sow love." These words ring especially true today. Negativity and distrust run rampant and people are often using hate speech to describe people they disagree with. Violence and natural disasters are bringing destruction and dominating the headlines. I decided to take a look at the top headlines today at several different news sources, some local some national and here is what I found:

-GOP, Dems testiness continues in Idaho House
-Idaho 21 still closed between Grandjean Junction and Banner Summit because of avalanche danger
-New Medicare rules rile some home health agencies
-Train hits dump truck at Idaho crossing, 1 dead
-Low levels of radiation found in West Coast milk
-Police: Trailer intentionally set on fire
-THE UPSIDE-DOWN RECOVERY
-Mom left dead in septic tank
-Two days, two assassination attempts
-Is violence imminent in Syria?
-Violence before Nigerian election

Based on these headlines you would think that the world was going to end tomorrow. In the midst of all the negativity, the hatred, we are called to sow love. We are called to put aside our differences and serve our neighbors. We are called to serve our neighbors in the global sense of the word. We are called to serve those in need. Nowhere does Jesus say, "Serve your neighbor, but only if they believe in me. If they don't believe in me, let them starve, freeze, thirst or even die. That'll teach them." No, Jesus said to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. That is a tall order. When someone demeans you usually the last thing you want to do is pray for them. But that is what we are called to do.

Where there is hatred - the world. Let us sow love. Sow love in this world.