All we (still) need is love

"Either you think, or else others have to think for you and take power from you, pervert and discipline your natural tastes, civilize and sterilize you."
-F. Scott Fitzgerald

I felt the insatiable desire today to write down some thoughts that I have in regards to current events and other various topics.  It is more clear to me than it has ever been that people today are in search of something to cling to and someone to speak for them, and yet say nothing for themselves.  People speak of acceptance and in the same breath hurl a slur alienating a religious group that they do not agree with.  People refer to issues and say that "God didn't say anything about that" but simply don't take the time to seek out what He said.  The various movements that have swept the U.S. nation over the last couple of years speak to this:  whether it be the tea party, the occupy movement, and now some controversial "civil rights" issues most recently.  Along with that, I have seen great divides come between political parties, friendships, and sadly even families.  Although the various factors that play into this may cover too large a scope to narrow down to one issue, I do believe that one element is missing in our world in the midst of all this, and that is love.  One quote that I came to mind as I considered this was from a writer that I hold in very high regard, Maya Angelou:   "If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love. Don't be surly at home, then go out in the street and start grinning 'Good morning' at total strangers."  This was so relevant as I considered divides that I have seen amongst families lately and as we approach mother's day tomorrow.  Our family and friends deserve more than our leftovers, they deserve our first-fruits.  They deserve our love and our care.  Recently, someone asked me about how I approach teaching teenagers, and I believe that my response and my convictions regarding this are just as relevant in approaching our relationships with friends and family.  I said to him that nobody cares what you have to say to them until they know that you care about them.  When somebody knows that you love them and that you genuinely care about their views and their well-being, a door is opened that can never be closed.  On the other hand, when you approach a relationship simply to spew out your views and what you have to say, a door is closed that can never more than partially be opened.  All of this is to simply inspire within others what I have been inspired with, and that is to fulfill our most basic human instinct: to love and be loved.  To do this, we must simply love one another.  Do you have something to say to someone?  Love them.  Are you hurt by what someone has said or believes in?  Love them.  Do you feel as if someone has treated you unjustly? Love them.  I personally believe that nothing that anyone wants to accomplish today can happen without first building the bridge that is love.  Although scattered and random, these are my thought and these are my views- LOVE, Phil.