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I woke up in a cold sweat a few nights ago after a horrific nightmare. It was early in the morning and as much as I tried, I couldn’t go back to sleep. I decided that if I couldn’t sleep any longer, I might as well talk to God and try to understand what my dream meant. I closed my eyes and saw large, dark gray clouds with lightning rolling through them and heard thunder cracking around me. God, I knew, was angry. Not directly with me, but with the state of the world we are in. With how we treat one another, and the constant battle for power.

One of the very first things I learned when I entered into the world of healing with the Mountain Gypsies was that the battle has already been won. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has already defeated the enemy, and we need not fear that His throne will be overturned. However, there is an ongoing battle, not just within mankind, but of principalities, higher powers and greater forces at work in and around our world. These battles are intertwined, one ruling the other like a puppeteer and his doll. What are we doing to stop this spiritual warfare? How do we bring peace to a place that has known chaos for so long?

First, we must be honest with ourselves. We must admit we are not perfect, nor will we ever be. We are sinners that choose to dress as saints. We are masked beings that are burdened and hurt and in pain, but the expressions we put on our faces tell a different story. We judge, condemn, ridicule, belittle and guilt one another. Is this human nature? Yes. Does that make it excusable? No.

When was the last time you judged someone without really getting to know them? I have, on many occasions. I’ve looked at a person’s clothes, tattoos, mannerisms, career, actions, etc., and I’ve formed an opinion before a word ever escaped their mouth. I’ve turned my back and spoken harshly about people I barely know. I’ve held massive grudges on those I felt wronged me, not considering their side of the same story. We are turning against one another constantly.

Let’s take a look at religion, for example: There have been wars over the same God. Most of us can agree that there is a God, that He created the heavens and the earth and that He sent His only son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, to save us all from our sins. But for some reason, there are hundreds of thousands of sects of religion that differ one from the other. How is this possible? How do we live in a world where people can agree about the core of a topic but the details lead to arguments? Is this not a sign that there are darker forces at work, trying to pin us against one another?

The major issue I see is that we are divided. Not just as a nation, but as a world.

Christ said, “Follow me.” That’s all he asked. He didn’t ask people to start a competition for who could follow him the fastest, or the smartest, or the best. We can all move towards the same goal individually, without comparison, yet in unison. We can take our pride and put it the side. We can ask for humility and compassion, and utilize that in speaking with one another. “Brothers and sisters” is how Christ addressed his people. That’s what we are. Family is family, and if we start to look at those around us as “brothers and sisters,” perhaps we will start to see one another for who we really are.

So, who are we? Well, we’re people that have a whole lot in common: hardships, betrayal, loss, grief and abandonment. We also share common interests, the need for belonging, the goal of finding our own purpose, the desire of recognition, and the want to give and receive love. We are all people; people who sometimes feel like the world is against them. The truth is, we have so many people that would go to battle for us.

Perhaps the people we are so quick to judge are the ones that are most like ourselves. Deep down, we all have parts we don’t like. Maybe we see those pieces clearer in others. I believe God is calling us to recognize that we are flawed, and work towards bettering ourselves before condemning others. Through this, we can begin to nurture the relationships we have with ourselves, which will craft more understanding, peaceful ties with those all around us.

Danielle Puleo is a staff writer for The Coastland Times. Reach her at danielle.puleo@thecoastlandtimes.com.

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