12 Hatred stirs up conflict,
but love covers over all wrongs.
Proverbs 10:12 (New International Version)
As a white man well into the second half of his life, I have never feared that my opportunities to live in a safe neighborhood, hold a job, or patronize a business would be met with suspicion or be restricted. Nor do I fear the ability to get needed medical care or obtain equal and reasonable treatment from civic institutions (local government and law enforcement) might be different based on my skin color. A black man or woman, in these same six decades would have a much different view. To many whites, myself included, delude ourselves based on limited experience, that injustice has “gone away”. We had a black President. Black astronauts. Men and women I served with in the Navy, or in the workplace that believed the same things I did, and served together “in the trenches”. And the “problems” were isolated because those problem areas were due to drugs, or Welfare, or the individual “bad” cop who mistreated those he or she was supposed to protect.
13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
1 Corinthians 13:1 (New International Version)
However, in the absence of Love, a Spiritual quality of God whom many today deny has meaning or relevance, compassion for others is often less motivating or less consistently applied in actions. Human beings have the same genes – same red blood – but our experience, abilities, limitations and emotions are what define us. The absence of Love infused in our lives leaves only our experience and our emotions to guide us. Some commit horrific acts – murder and genocide, while others, are indifferent to the state of others. Still others profit, either in power and influence, or materially over those their words “encourage”. Without Love, scriptural Truth teaches, words are noise makers (1 Corinthians 13:1).
Unlike the blind whose other senses grow stronger to compensate for their lack of sight, those who are spiritually blind have not necessarily become better people through focus on politics, science, literature, nature or philanthropy. All of these pursuits can be significantly uplifting, in the changed lives and thinking that comes from total and consuming devotion to God the embodiment of Love. One who did not hold the misdeeds of men against them, and through His resurrection, shows us the Power of Love.
It's a Dog's Life 