Love And Hate Poem by Elizabeth Padillo Olesen

Our world is filled with conflicts and death-
death from wars, from oppression and greed
The heart is made the dwelling place of hate
instead of a throne of love
Love is swallowed by the fire of hate.

We wonder when will humans enthrone love
in human hearts - love to overcome hate?
Hate enslaves and victimizes us as lesser humans
Hate deprives us from the joy- the innate joy in love.
Hate leads us to darkness without hope.
Love brings life, restores joy and peace
in ourselves and with others.

But our love can easily turn to hate
at a click of a second
Our joy and peace can easily be shattered -
declaring ourselves defeated and hopeless;
and with surging hate,
wanting only to inflict pain on those outside us

We need to come closer
to the real source of love -Jesus-
the way to love and forgive.