With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds…to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves, and with all nations. ~ US President Abraham Lincoln, Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865, just before the end of the Civil War

Despite our title and that image above, this post is not about politics. As many of you know, I have no political convictions or affiliations. You might say I’m “a-political.” I like it that way.

Having said that, there are a handful of politicians I’ve respected and admired over the years. One of those is former United States Senator Al Simpson of Wyoming.

Years ago, Al was being interviewed on a news program about social issues. Among his comments were these:

“We have homophobes in our (Republican) party. That’s disgusting to me. We’re all human beings. We’re all God’s children.”

Those comments have stuck with me over the years. They’re even more poignant and timely today with all the political anger and bitterness raging across the land.

Roughly half the US is celebrating President Donald Trump’s presidency, while the other half is sure the US and the world are on a one-way trip to hell. And they’re tearing at each other’s throats, sometimes literally.

It’s time we all took to heart Senator Simpson’s words, “We’re all human beings. We’re all God’s children.” Regardless of our political values (or lack of them).

And it’s time to heed President Lincoln’s words, “to bind up the nation’s wounds…to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves, and with all nations.”

The US is a wounded nation in a wounded world. Those of us on a conscious spiritual path can do much to bind up those wounds and to help all begin to heal.

Here are some words of wisdom from A Course In Miracles:

“I can escape from this world by giving up attack thoughts. Herein lies salvation, and nowhere else. Without attack thoughts I could not see a world of attack. As forgiveness allows love to return to my awareness, I will see a world of peace and safety and joy. And it is this I choose to see, in place of what I look on now.”

May we all see a world of peace and safety and joy. If we do, we will return to that world, and carry along all our sisters and brothers.