What is the basis of human nature? Are we little more than highly intelligent primates, at the mercy of our genes and environment? Are we sinners in need of saving by a God given to such whims as destroying the Earth by a flood? Or are we really capable of transcending both these views and becoming the people that we are meant to be? Maybe we don't have the power to do it on our own, but with the help of those around us, and something called grace, I believe it's not only possible, but necessary if we are to survive as a species.
I recall the story about a tribe in Africa (can't remember the name) and how, when someone does something "bad", instead of punishing that person, each member of the tribe tells one good thing (and it has to be true) about the "bad" person to that person until he/she remembers who he/she is. So maybe that is the basis of all our problems--we've forgotten who we are.
War is not natural to human beings. People have to be taught to be soldiers, to kill, to blindly follow orders. Likewise, people have to be taught kindness, compassion, to put others' needs ahead of their own. It's like the story of the two wolves--a young Native American boy says to his uncle: "Sometimes I feel like there are two wolves inside me and they are fighting. One is good and one is bad. How do I know which one will win?" To which his wise uncle replied: "It depends on which one you feed".
Which wolf are you feeding?
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