Love is the answer
A young blond girl walks away along a lake pier at sunset, holding tightly to her father’s hand. Image courtesy of Lightstock.com.
Several days ago, my husband and I watched the 2014 film The Giver on Netflix. It was based on the book by Lois Lowry of the same title, which came out in 1993.
I'd never heard of either before, though one Goodreads reviewer commented it was an optional English class read for them. (Since I graduated in '95, it's no surprise it hadn't made it on to class reading lists during my school years.)
The basic premise of the story is that, in a dystopian future where humanity has been regulated, engineered, and de-emotionalized into sameness for the sake of harmony, one boy (or young man in the movie) is singled out for special training to receive the collective memories of humanity, including all its joys and pains. Ultimately, he makes a choice that changes the future of humanity forever.
In a real-life, modern world that seems characterized by drama I wish I could escape, this powerful story has given me a lot to think about.
I think it's safe to say that most of us wish for more peace and harmony in the world. We would love to see a world where we felt safe everywhere we went, knowing that we could express our views and opinions and not be crucified or shunned for doing so.
In reality, we live in a world that seems ever more polarized. I don't know if it actually is, but there are certainly polarizing topics that tend to be the focus of most online discussions, and even many in-person ones.
Can we each retain our individuality, uniqueness, emotions, opinions, beliefs, and more, and still somehow find a way to live in peace and harmony with our fellow man?
Honestly, I don't know. There are some belief systems that are inherently at odds. For instance, I'll never support a belief system that thinks women should be subjugated, that one ethnic group is better than any other, or that it's okay to exploit anyone.*
But I also believe that many of the things humans tend to draw lines around don't matter as much as we make them matter. I say this as someone who used to draw lines around very minor sticking points and focus on them with a ferocity I now find embarrassing.
No matter what I may feel about a person's beliefs, I can still show them love.
I've discovered that, in a world of contention and hate, love is one of the most difficult things to practice.
“In a world of contention and hate, love is one of the most difficult things to practice.”
And it is a practice.
As a Christian, it is my highest calling to love. Everyone. Whether I agree with them or not. Whether I think they're trying to offend me or not. Even if they're being openly combative, I am living my faith when I respond in love.
When you love, you don't need to control, because love and control are opposite. Love has room for all the different people in the world. It's what heals us of our past traumas, builds bridges across the differences that divide us, and shows us how to leave behind the false beliefs that are destroying us.
This isn't meant to preach at anyone. It's just something I've been thinking about. It's so easy for me to get caught in my own insecurities and lies and forget: love is the most important thing I can do.
No matter the question, love is the answer.
This was my reminder to myself.
*There is some irony to the fact that the movie The Giver was produced by the Weinstein Company. I absolutely can't support Harvey Weinstein's actions or beliefs. But even though he was probably making the movie for strictly business reasons, the evocative message remains. It is a beautiful piece of art.
Thoughts on The Giver, harmony, and love.