There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. -- 1 John 4:18
There is only one source in the universe, which is love, i.e. God. God is absolute and therefore has no opposite. As a result, love has no opposite. However, the absence of love is known as fear. Therefore every act that a human being performs is either an act of love or an act of fear. Every act of fear is really just a cry for love.
So when we or someone else lashes out, is rude, or cruel, it is a manifestation of fear. Usually it's the fear of being taken advantage of or the fear that we will not be liked. So the offender preemptively strikes. Fear says, "Hurt them before they hurt you."
When we struggle with people, let's say a co-worker, who is rude for no reason, (at least no reason that we can see or hear,) rather than responding, "That person is such a b*tch!" We should realize that person is responding to their own fears. A fear that you don't realize how valuable they are. A fear that you think they are stupid. A fear that you are taking advantage of them. A fear that their life is spiraling out of their control. A fear that they have taken a job that is beneath them. All of these fears lead to harsh words and actions which are really just a cry for love.
Racism, bullying, and homophobia are all cries for love. They stem from the fear that says, "I'm afraid I may be no better than those people over there." But the truth is we are all perfect! We just don't know it! It's our fears that shield our eyes from seeing our own perfection. We are each created in the image and likeness of God, who is love.
When we open our hearts to love, it drives out fear. Just like flipping on the light-switch drives out the darkness.
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