We’re in a tough moment. Anger, division, fear, conspiracy theories, cancel culture, even threats and violence.

We *all* want to be in a good place: safe for our families and loved ones and ourselves. Joyful in community. Good food, clean air and water to eat and drink. Financial stability, and health.

How do we get from here to there? We look at the lessons of history. Whether Romeo and Juliet, or the feuding families in Huck Finn, or our own Civil War.

And we remember that even war didn’t get rid that eternal challenge: how do we live with one another? How do we disagree agreeably, while supporting one another’s right to be free, to exist, to enjoy a basically good life?

It’s hard. Just as relationships even with those we love most are hard, relationships in societies with those we disagree with, and tend to dislike, are even harder, because they are leaning on weaker branches, apt to break.

So we must begin here: maitri, the Buddhist meditation practice of making friends with ourselves, fully. For it is our own self-aggression that gives rise to fear and anger toward others, even those we love. For those wedded to machismo and aggression, we can remember when we were most happy. Not happy in our aggression, but happy in what Jesus would call Love.

Active love, as Reverend MLK, Jr., put it, is our path forward. Maitri—making friends with all of our sweet selves—is our starting point. Our destination: a noble society, a good country and a stable planet based on liberty, on Love, and as they say around Christmastime—Peace on Earth, and goodwill to all.

Is this something we can all agree we want? If so, we have our task before us.

A shorter version to share:

Our common desire: a noble society, a good country, and a stable planet for our children based on liberty, on Love, and as they say around Christmastime—Peace on Earth, and goodwill to all.

Is this something we can all agree we want? If so, we have our task before us.

We must begin here: touching in with our own hearts. What we most fundamentally desire.

Maitri, the Buddhist meditation practice of making friends with all of ourselves, is one path.

It is our own self-aggression that gives rise to depression and isolation for ourselves, and fear and anger toward others—even those we love. For those of us enjoying machismo and aggression, this call to hope may feel weak. But remember when you were most happy…not happy in aggression, but happy in what Jesus would call Love.

Active love, as Reverend MLK, Jr, put it, is our path forward. Maitri—making friends with all of our sweet selves—is our starting point. A life of joy is our destination, if we decide, now, that is what we want.