With 20 killed and 26 injured in El Paso, Texas and nine killed and 27 injured in Dayton, Ohio (as of the time of this writing), I believe we can all agree that we have a spirit of murder in our country.  The problem is evident.  The solution is unknown, but the blame game is in full swing.

Instead of it being a time of healing, the politicians have made it a time to attack each other. Some take this time to blame the gun industry. Others blame the president, while others use it to bring the race issue up which seems to pop its ugly head up every election.

I’m the first to admit that our country is as divided now as it has ever been in my lifetime. We still have racism, but I think it’s more hatred that exists now. The murders over the weekend weren’t about racism, but about hatred, which is colorblind.

The Bible says we should love our neighbor as we love ourselves. According to our behavior, we really don’t love ourselves.

If I said I wasn’t concerned about what’s going on, I’d be untruthful. I pray that I can be in the group that wants to be a part of the solution and not one who accepts the direction we’re headed.

The solution is so simple it confuses many, especially people in authority.

Growing up during segregation and loving baseball, I remember the first African American, Jackie Robinson, to play major league baseball.  He took as much insults and abuse as any human being.

One day at his home stadium in Brooklyn, he made an error.  The fans immediately turned on him.  While they jeered, Robinson just stood there at second base, humiliated.  Shortstop Pee Wee Reese ran over, stood beside him, put his arm around him, and together they faced the crowd.  Within seconds, the crowd was silent.

Years later, when Robinson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, he said, “Reese’s arm around my shoulder that day saved my career.”

I’m sure there was a lot of hatred for a few minutes during that game, but one man with courage changed the atmosphere. Maybe today all we need is more love and people with courage to solve the problem.

If you have any questions, or comments, please write to Harold Keller – Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084, call (985) 652-8477, or e-mail: hkelle@comcast.net.