“Despite everything, life is full of beauty and meaning.”
~ Etty Hillesum
Etty Hillesum wrote this when she was
imprisoned in the death camp at Auschwitz. Whenever I read any of her quotes, I am amazed, uplifted, inspired and encouraged. Not only did that young Jewish woman look for and see beauty in the world, she looked for the goodness in all humanity. Despite the abuse she endured, she refused to hate.
Etty reminds us to focus on beauty, love, compassion, courage, hope-all
the highest qualities within us.
Etty's example nourishes my desire to add strength to the movement toward peace that exists among us. It's there. In fact, it's growing. Yes, a movement of hate is growing too. Or perhaps it's mostly a matter of the hate becoming louder and more visible. By saying this, I'm not minimizing that hate or the danger of it. I just don't want to
maximize it nor feed it. I want to feed peace-building and a growing respect among us all.
Today, despite all the things that trouble us, let's look for beauty in the world and in one another. Let's also bring beauty into the world through acts of love and kindness.
With hope,
Charlene
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