There once was a hindu holy man who saw a scorpion floundering around in the water. He decided to save it by stretching out his finger. But the scorpion stung him. The man still tried to get the scorpion out of the water, but the scorpion stung him again. A man nearby told him to stop saving the scorpion that kept stinging him. But the holy man said, "It is the nature of the scorpion to sting. It is my nature to love. Why should I give up my nature to love just because it is the nature of the scorpion to sting?"
It should be our nature to love regardless of who we are, regardless of what has been done to us. Its hard, I know. Trust me. People are always going to sting you. They are going to rip into your character. They are going to be the ones in the platform telling you that your views are wrong. They are going to be in the pulpits pointing fingers in judgment. They are going to be the ones who hold your whole race responsible for the actions of one person. But that doesn't give you the right to despise. Hate for those who hate is still hate. In spite of those who may sting you, remain in what you know to be your nature, love.
- Stephen Christian (singer of Anberlin and Anchor & Braille)
[I found this to be incredibly sobering and optimistic, hope you will too]
-Swish
