“The real test is to love those who don’t love you”
A COLUMN by Shawn Hogan, Hornell NY
I start each day with a meditation from the Center for Action and Contemplation, this morning a particular paragraph stood out and hit me hard. “We live in a time of great hostility, and we must resist the temptation to pull back from others, deny our shadows, and retreat into our own defended camps or isolated positions.’’.
I did a little self-reflection upon reading this quote and found that I too have allowed anger to cloud my feelings and found myself pulling back from society and lashing out at people, including friends and family. We can oppose what is going on in this country today without retreating within ourselves and letting bitterness rule the day.
I wrote an article many years ago, which I did often when I was Mayor of the City of Hornell. One of the articles was all about “Testing our Hearts” a well know Author Catholic Priest Henri Nouwen wrote the following how he approached each day.
“Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone’s face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love I sow will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come”
It seems that it is easy to be critical and callous. It is easy to love those who love you, the real test of the heart is to love those who do Not LOVE YOU. Forgive those who fail to forgive you. Sow some seeds of love each and everyday and watch as it bears many fruits.
Fight the Fight, Keep the Faith. Just some thoughts from people smarter than me but make perfect sense.
Shawn Hogan is the former Mayor of the City of Hornell, the current chair of the Steuben County Democratic Committee, a husband, father, and grandfather. You can reach him anytime, shawnhogan74@gmail.com
