By Scarlett Lewis, Chief Movement Officer
Eleven years ago, my life changed forever when my son, Jesse, was taken from me during the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy. In the aftermath, I witnessed firsthand the deep polarization in our country. Rather than coming together, we divided, pointing fingers and taking sides on the issue of gun control. This divisiveness stems from fear, which only serves to alienate us further. The true path to healing lies in the powerful force of love.
Love has the incredible ability to unite us. During this dark chapter of my life, Jesse left us a poignant message on our kitchen chalkboard: “Nurturing Healing Love.” This simple yet profound statement made me realize that at our core, as human beings, we are remarkably similar. We all have an innate desire to love and be loved. Without love, we suffer.
It’s enlightening to remember that we are 99.9 percent genetically identical. This is a staggering scientific fact that underscores our shared humanity. No matter where we live or what we believe, our fundamental needs and desires are strikingly similar. We all seek happiness, security, and connection.
A survey by Barret found that Democrats and Republicans share nine out of ten values, with only compassion and integrity showing slight differences. This highlights that our core principles are more aligned than divisive political rhetoric might suggest.
The “Choose Love” formula, inspired by Jesse’s courageous act of saving 9 of his first grade classmates and his chalkboard message “Nurturing Healing Love’ offers a path to unity. It involves four critical practices:
1. Courage: Embracing the courage to be aware of our shared humanity and listen to each other with an open heart.
2. Gratitude: Being thankful for what we have, which can transform our perspective and foster respect for others.
3. Forgiveness: Letting go of past grievances to heal and move forward together.
4. Compassion: Treating others as we would like to be treated, in both our thoughts and deeds.
The choice between love and fear is one we can make right now, in fact one that we make each day in every interaction. Love enables understanding, cooperation, and progress, while fear breeds mistrust, hostility, and division. It’s the difference between working together towards a safer, brighter future for our children, or continuing the cycle of blame and conflict.
In stepping away from fear and Choosing Love, we each take personal responsibility for our actions, cultivating a more united society. It starts with small, individual efforts—recognizing our commonalities, practicing gratitude, forgiving past mistakes, and showing compassion. It is being responsible for our thoughts, that directly impact how we feel and behave. It is through these actions that we can create a world where our children are safe and well, and where love, not fear, is the guiding force.
What do you choose?
