The Law of Three (80) War in The Holy Land and The Reconciling Force
Today, I am taking sides. I am taking the side of Peace. Peace which I will not abandon even when its voice is drowned out by hurt and hatred, bitterness of loss, cries of right and wrong. I am taking the side of Peace, whose name has barely been spoken in this winnerless war...I will do what I must to save the life of Peace. I will breathe through tears, I will swallow pride, I will bite my tongue, I will offer love without testing for deservingness... Don't ask me to take sides unless it is the side of Peace.
Rabbi Irwin Keller, Oct.17, 2023.
"Those committed to non-violence access to sources of strength and courage that they did not know they had. These forces finally reach the opponent and stir his consciousness so reconciliation becomes a reality." Martin Luther King, in "Finding Peace"
We must avoid two extremes: seeing all good on our side and all evil on their side, or, on the contrary, dismissing both sides as totally evil..."
Thomas Merton (1962), in "Christian Action in World Crisis."
The Law of Three states we are carriers of the third or reconciling force. As carriers of the third force our personal responsibility is enormous in relation to the global conflicts that are taking place in the world today. We have the power to lend our individual Will to one of the two opposing and irreconcilable forces and, in this way, strengthen and prolong suffering of mankind or, alternatively, as Rabbi Keller says, struggle with our divided selves:
"To save the life of Peace" I will breath through my tears, I will swallow my pride, I will bite my tongue, and i will offer love without testing for deservingness."
Love is the only alternative to waking up from the nightmare of seeing all good on our side and all evil on the other side.
