The Others …

Franz Kellner

by Franz Kellner

Story

I once mentioned it in one of my earlier stories that after my teenage years and doing stupid things, I experienced, with God’s love and guidance, also through good people that I met, that my life changed, and I became a little more reasonable person.

Since that time until today, I have often been concerned with the question of the reasons why we humans long for an ideal and peaceful world in harmony with each other and with nature, but after a very long time, we are far from it and do so many things which contradict our most primal longing. I don’t want to lecture anyone, but I do want to share something that affects me just as much, and I think is important, especially in our present day.
It’s “only” one point: When asked who is actually to blame for the whole thing? Many people have a simple answer: It’s “other people’s” fault. I believe that if we dropped that excuse, our world could actually look better. If it’s other people’s fault, they have to change, not me. We learned these kinds of excuses from our first ancestors.
Yes, when God asked Adam and Eve why they had not kept His commandment, Adam first said: “Yes, the woman whom You gave me seduced me….”
When God asked Eve, she said, “The serpent has deceived me….”
Nobody said, “I’m sorry, it was my fault…”.

Similar events have continued throughout history until today. Conscience has been pushed aside too often. How would history have developed if, since the beginning, people had asked themselves more: How can I change so that everything around me changes for the better?
I think we all know these statements: Communists: “The capitalists are to blame.”
Capitalists: “The communists are to blame.” It continues with the left against the right, the poor against the rich. Even religions and their members have conflicts with each other. We can’t advance this way.
I think anyone who has not understood that the task of religions is to show people a way back to the ideal and peace, together with God, has not understood the heart of God. The more we humans understand in our hearts that we are all children of God, regardless of our faith or race, then we could not live selfishly and irresponsibly and achieve our ideal together.
I love the story of Jacob and Esau. It begins similarly to Abel and Cain and ends very differently. Esau felt betrayed and wanted to kill Jacob. Jacob learned from his mistakes and won Esau’s heart. They embraced and Jacob said to Esau, “For I have seen your face as one sees the face of God, and you have received me kindly.”
If only history could repeat itself today, as it did with Jacob and Esau, in all nations, who are in conflict with each other!
A big thanks to Jill Jackson-Miller and Sy Miller who wrote the song “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me”.


© Franz Kellner 2024-05-29

Genres
Spirituality
Moods
Challenging, Hopeful, Reflective
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