Like a lot of people these days, I’m on Facebook. I use it mainly to keep in touch with friends, but also with people who I haven’t seen in years. It’s like a high school and college reunion, held in the same place, EVERY DAY!
But what I’ve noticed, especially because of the elections, some strong opinions can come out of seemingly harmless status updates and posted notes. (For you non-Facebookers, these are just different ways that you communicate with your friends and network.) And I seem to have some pretty strongly opinionated friends — liberal and conservative!
Something happened on my Facebook profile tonight that was really bothering. It started with a video that I posted to my profile that was a tearjerker speech from a representative in California who had changed his mind about equal marriage, becoming in favor of it. As a supporter of equal marriage, I posted it to my profile.
People can comment on your posted items, and so it was no surprise that friends of mine posted comments like: “yay! this is hopeful!” and “Cool! Thanks for posting.” However, one of my friends commented that she thought that this representative should be removed from office.
I know that this woman has a strong opinion about who should have the right to marry and who shouldn’t. And she knows what my opinions are as well. I also know she likes to debate, but I was very surprised that she would openly express her opinion on my posting–really just looking for a debate.
Ok, everyone has the right to express his or her opinions. That’s what makes life so interesting! We’re all so different. But at some point, the questions and opinions come around to who’s “right” and who’s “wrong.” One person trying to prove the other wrong. What makes us want to have the right view, the right opinions, the right way of living?
In a word: ego. The ego wants to be the one who has all the answers, knows exactly what you need to do and how to do it, and is very quick to tell you how to do it. It, afterall, has seen how doing what’s “right” has worked for you, so shouldn’t everyone being doing it your way?
We all have our personal truths, and at the heart of the personal truth is one of universal love, acceptance and peace. Whatever you, dear reader, believe to be your truth, I do not hold it against you. I celebrate it with you, even if I don’t subscribe to your belief. Your personal truth and your beliefs are separate, the angels tell me. You personal truth is based in love, and love does not discriminate or cause harm. The litmus test as to if your beliefs coincide with your personal truth is: are you hurting someone because of your personal beliefs? Does your belief cause harm, injustice or inequality?
I pulled the “Get Some Exercise” card from the Magical Messages from the Fairies oracle card deck from Doreen Virtue. In this case, the words didn’t have much to do with the message in the card. The fairy in the card is soaring high above the clouds, high above an iris that is in the center of several quartz crystal points. The crystals in this instance are sharp, icy spikes that poke through the fluffy clouds and threaten the fairy flying above. And yet, the fairy soars above, with her eyes fixated on her destination. Her destination in this case is the light and love of her truth.
Whether you’re liberal or conservative, only you know your highest truth. As we walk this earth, though, the only thing the angels ask of us is to respect each other and, with all our actions, come from a place of love.
