Echoes of a Quieter Creed #1457

Echoes of a Quieter Creed (The Unspoken Doctrine) In the vast expanse where humanity's heart beats, echoes a rhythm not sung from holy texts or whispered in prayers beneath ancient steeples. Here, in the corners of crowded streets and in the silence between world leaders' speeches, thrums a deeper creed—a pervasive faith in violence. This doctrine, unspoken yet understood, wields more power than the revered scriptures of Christianity, the verses of the Quran, the chants of Hinduism, or the solemn rituals of Judaism. We walk the earth, cloaked in the vestments of peace, yet our hands betray us, reaching too often for the sword. We speak of love, of compassion, of brotherhood, yet the clang of conflict rises above our whispers of unity. How starkly this path diverges from the teachings of peace so beautifully penned, so fervently preached. Let us pause, then, in this relentless march, to question the shadows that follow each step we take. Are we truly disciples of peace, or are we worshippers at the altar of strife? Can we claim to seek a world clad in harmony when our actions paint a canvas of discord? Oh, let it not be so! Let us redefine our allegiance—not to the doctrines that demand the thunder of guns, but to the quiet revolution of hearts turning towards peace. Let our legacy be not the enforcement of power through violence, but the courageous choice of healing over hurting, of understanding over overpowering. This is our call to arms—a call to lay them down. Let us gather, not in war rooms, but in places of peace, to rebuild what has been broken and to forge new paths where only footprints of kindness remain. Written by Steven G. Lee (May 23, 2024)